I saw a quote recently; “when the elderly die, a library is lost and volumes of wisdom and knowledge are gone." This got me thinking about how much wisdom and knowledge the elderly have, and how important I think it is that we sit down with them and let them share.
I sit with patients almost every day, most over the age of 80, the eldest being 107. They tell the best stories, always sharing their opinions about the world today, and so many thoughts about love and relationships… I learn a lot from them.
I was sitting at the bedside of a man who was dying, holding the hand of his wife of 62 years. That is a really long time (all of my relationships together do not add up to that) and I find it truly beautiful when I see a love that has lasted that long. I always ask "how did you meet," and "what is the secret to making a relationship last?" I love the stories about how they met, their courtship, their struggles, and their strengths. I could listen for hours. And the advice is usually pretty much the same; you have to have trust, communication, and deep friendship... without that you cannot possibly survive.
If you are blessed to still have grandparents or parents, sit down with them, talk to them, listen to them... you might be surprised at how much sense they make relative to life, and love. If you have small children, encourage them to do the same. And if you happen to have a little extra time on your hands, look into volunteering, it will be so good for your heart and soul, and imagine what it might do for the person sitting next to you!!!
Grab hold of those volumes of wisdom and knowledge so that their stories are not lost or forgotten. Help to keep their legacy alive, and ensure that their story continues to be told.
xo
Gabby
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