I read about Steve, a fourteen-year-old who spent an hour a week visiting elderly people in a nursing home. In the article he said that he did so not so much for the residents of the home, but for himself. He said he learned so much that his visits had become a treasured part of his week. I was so impressed with what he had to say that I began asking around, to see if others were doing the same. I discovered that many teens from around the world love to spend time with elderly people for a variety of reasons. Some do so because the people they visit love and appreciate their company; others do so for the gifts they receive.
Elderly people often have a younger, happier, and wiser spirit than people much younger in actual years. Many times they are much more patient, accepting, humorous, and nonjudgmental, and far better listeners. Very often they have amazing stories to share and invaluable information based on actual life experience. Sometimes even very old people who can no longer speak very well, or who are confined to a bed or wheelchair, have a loving, gentle, and special presence that is nourishing to be around.
My grandmother, who died a few years ago, lived in a nursing home the last year of her life. I loved visiting her and having the opportunity simply to sit in her presence. We didn’t need to say anything, just to hold hands. I also enjoyed visiting with several of the other residents in her home. They had accumulated such wisdom and were so willing to share. I found myself asking for advice and learning a great deal. After all, these were people with up to three times my life experience!
If you wanted to learn to drive a car, you’d visit a driving instructor. If you wanted to learn to play basketball, you’d spend time with a coach or other players. The same is true with virtually anything you’d like to learn about. You probably would choose to spend time and energy with someone with experience.
My suggestion is this: If you want to learn about life, spend at least some time with those people who have the most life experience: the elderly. Doing this might involve visiting your grandparents or other people’s grandparents on a regular basis. Or you might have elderly neighbors who would love your company. Or you might choose to visit people in a nursing home, retirement center, or some type of community center. If you ask around, you’ll find the perfect people to visit.
And when you do, ask plenty of questions and really listen to what the people have to say. It’s a great way to enrich your own life, brighten the lives of those you visit, and learn some incredible things. If you take this step, it just might become a very important part of your life.