08/11/2024

Solidarity

Solidarity - a word that raised its head in 1980 above the parapet in Poland and the political party of that name went on to win the 1989 elections – is a virtue our country and indeed the whole world needs if it is to end conflicts, rebuild communities and begin to eliminate dementia..  

Defined as ‘unity or agreement of feeling for action, among individuals – and communities - with a common interest’, it generates mutual support within a group. A shining example of this is there in many – though, alas, not all - parts of the NHS – and quite a few Care Homes.

As people live longer, dementia becomes a greater scourge. Currently one in eleven over 65 year old’s  have dementia – and need support.

The challenges are there. You, dear reader, can play your part. If you want to. 

“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” encourages Vince Lombardi (1913-70) American professional football coach and executive in the National Football League. Lombardi is considered by many to be among the greatest coaches and leaders in American sports who took over a downtrodden Green Bay Packers team in 1959 and turned it into professional football's most dominant organization of the 1960s. 

When there is a strong enough will, there is a way. “I never worry about the problem. I worry about the solution,” stated Shaquille Rashaun "Shaq" O'Neal,(born 19172) an American former professional basketball player, a sports analyst on the television program. Inside the NBA on TNT, who is widely considered one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association history.

Solidarity is ubuntu – good for you and good for your neighborhood: the whole wide world. “You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself” taught Lawrence Harvey Brown(born 1940), an American basketball coach and former player who last served as an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers. Brown is the only coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA national championship and an NBA title.

Why not start a conversation with your mates to see what together you can do – actually do - to help the neediest on your manor?  Why not set up street - or parish- WhatsApp communities offering support to other dementia carers?

“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.” said Knute Rockne (1888-1931) American football player and coach at the University of Notre Dame. Leading Notre Dame for 13 seasons, Rockne accumulated over 100 wins and three national championships. Rockne is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history, whose biography at the College Football Hall of Fame identifies him as "without question, American football's most-renowned coach".

Getting a few heads together can work wonders in finding solutions. If you think that you are too small to make a difference, ask a mosquito. 

"Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Wise words from Michael Jordan (born 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.

If only our politicians took on board words uttered by Eddie Robinson (1919-2007) an American football coach who for 56 years, from 1941 to 1942 and again from 1945 to 1997,  was the head coach at Grambling State University, a historically black university. “Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you,” However, you can believe in yourself and, once you form a cohort of friends, you can improve the lives of your neighbours who are dementia carers.

“I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.” we were told by Tom Landry(1924-2000) American professional football coach, player, and World War II veteran. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he was the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL), a position he held for 29 seasons. During his coaching career, he created many new formations and methods, such as the now default 4–3 defense that is used by a majority of teams in the NFL, and the "flex defense" system made famous by the "Doomsday Defense" squads he built during his tenure with the Cowboys., the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League, a position he held for 29 seasons. 

Rather than grumble about The Government - and there is much to grumble about - try to be positive. Support - don’t ignore - your local dementia carers. “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears,” warned Laird Hamilton (born 1964), an American big-wave surfer, co-inventor of tow-in surfing, 

Rather than just a Neighborhood Watch, why not generate a Neighborhood Action Plan to help those who are in danger of mental health issues.  “Your biggest opponent isn’t the other guy. It’s human nature.”  Words from Bobby Knight (1940-2023), a former American basketball coach nicknamed "The General", who won 902 NCAA Division I men's college basketball games, a record. I would add ‘human nature – including dementia - at its worst’. 

At its best – as experienced in so many hospital and care-home teams - human nature is inspirational. A growing number of communities have formed weekly WhatsApp or Zoom ‘bubbles’ for mutual dementia carers support. How about doing that for your street, block of flats or parish?

Ronnie Lott(born 1959), elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and widely considered to be one of the best of all time at the safety position in NFL history, said “If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.” To improve the ability – and confidence of your local community - why not start each meeting with some prayer?

As Carl Lewis(born 1961),  American former track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold. Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper whose career spanned from 1979 to 1996, when he last won the Olympic long jump, put it, “if you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”

It’s never too late to start helping God make our world a better place. Remember, as Tom Landry put it, “Today, you have 100% of what is left of your life." Beating dementia will not be easy.

Aged 85 – and thus with 5% of my life left (probably) - I shall not be there to celebrate that victory. But pray it will take place.

Thus, rather than allow yourself and your community become discouraged, remember the words of Pele (1940-2022): “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”

As "Yogi" Berra (1925-2015) - widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, who later took on the roles of manager and coach. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, all but the last for the New York Yankees.  -  put it, “it ain’t over, ’til it’s over.”  Until then, we are all in this together. 

Vast sums of money have been invested in tackling and conquering cancer – with many marvelous results. Dementia needs to be treated the same way. Fast. 

Physical health, once the mind has gone, is terrible for the sufferers and those who love them -and need support to keep on keeping on caring..