...be considerate to the elderly...

Yesterday evening, I was talking to a 90 year old woman. She said, "I am unable to hear on my right ear and unfortunately unable to see on my left eye." However, she was telling this issue with a smile. I told her, "thanks for being honest in telling me." Now I know when I speak to you, I will speak on the side where you still hear me. She said, "thank you very much."

Another lesson of how I need to be considerate to respond to the special needs of an elderly individual.

It is amazing

I was sitting down with three elderly women and enjoying our delicious lunch. One of them is a 90 year old, the other was an 87 year old and the youngest was an 85 year old. The 90 year old woman shared some of her stories. She touches on her educational background, how she grew up and also the many students she had taught in schools. Her stories can be written into a "book" for others to read. "Never give up, in whatever you want to do in life", She said this sentence to me before she ended her story-telling.

In stillness of the heart, we listen to God

"Be peaceful in yourself, Advent is a time of waiting with hope..., "...be still and let God speak to you." reflection given by a 99 year old woman. (12/3/08)

..wise thoughts from them..

A man in his 80s as he was coming into the room said, "be happy, be happy, why be sad." I watched him as he was waving his hands to others. He was very joyful today and I was glad to see him with his joyful mood.

Another woman in her 80s too said, "I could not wait to get better so that I can dance again." I told her you need to eat more food and do more exercises so that you can build up your legs again. She said, "yes, yes I am doing it."

A 90 year old woman said, "the food is de..li..ciou...s" At this moment she has problem with her speech but she is very determine to articulate whatever she wants to say to me.

A 99 year old woman said to me, "I am happy to see you today." Hearing this is a joy for me because if this 99 year woman can said this to me, I need to aware of myself whether I greet others as well. It is always a lesson to learn from the elderly individuals.

A 92 year old man said, "I am very forgetful." This is very true because I was with him for 20 minutes and he kept on asking me the same question for 20 times. God bless all these elderly individuals.

...feeling of missing someone...

"It (Loneliness) is a feeling of missing someone, a signficant other. There is the emptiness in that feeling. It is also painful as I see that I am alone now. Like a part of me is not there. I know it but I can't put my hand on it. It is an inner part of me that I should be aware of but it just isn't there. And yet, I am not grieving because she (wife) is gone. I am looking forward seeing her again."

A 78 year old man describes his feeling of loneliness (Dec 1, 2008).