If there’s one group of people that I feel nothing but love for it’s the elderly. I think they’re adorable in every sense of the word. What’s more, I think we could all learn a great deal from them – their experiences and their wisdom. If you are blessed enough to have parents and grandparents living who would be considered the “older” generation, I’ve got some of the best Self Help advice you’ll ever hear (and remarkably, it goes hand in loving hand with the guest article I posted earlier today!): Pull out all the wonderful information, stories, recipes (!!!), remembrances, and living history from your family members that your brain and heart can hold.
The beautiful thing is, you won’t have to pull hard. Parents, grandparents, older neighbors, co-workers, aunts, uncles, and friends love to talk and visit – we just often get so busy that we don’t take time to listen. This arrangement makes everyone a loser. You’ll make their day if you start visiting with them and listening to them regularly and, mark it down, you’ll be a better person for it.
I want to tell you about something today that’s truly beautiful. Something that I hope you’ll take advantage of – not just for the good that you’ll give, but for the good you’ll receive. As I told a friend through e-mail recently – there are certain things I believe in with all of my heart and soul: God’s love, the goodness of coffee and chocolate, the peacefulness of a cat on your lap, and the miracle of a child’s laughter. I told him that I believed in something else just as much: Karma. I believe know that we get out of life no more than we put into it. If we expect amazing things to happen to us, guess what: We have to be worthy! Here’s a test for you to try: Think of about 5 people. Think of the ones who seem, more often than not, to just have it made – they have a good life, they’re happy, and even when things go wrong – they seem to just kind of laugh through it. Then think of the ones who never seem to catch a break – things seem to work against them more than for them and they seem to almost always be on the brink of a crisis of some sort. Now think about the karma they’re generating with their lives. More times than not, the first group generally loves people and would do anything for anyone, within their power – and sometimes outside of their power. People, animals, birds, the earth – the first group genuinely just wants to make the world a better place for everyone. The second group? Well, they’re the Me, Myself, and I crowd.
And they pay dearly for it.
If you suspect that your karma needs a make over, below is your chance! If your karma is already sweet… here’s a golden opportunity to sweeten it even further. Coffee can never be too bold and karma can never be too sweet… that’s kind of Life 101 in my book.
Either way, I’d love for you to visit Seniors For Living and learn more about Random Acts of Kindness Week. They’re heading up an outstanding movement to generate random acts of kindness for seniors. How beautiful is that?!?! Read their suggestions and jump in with both feet and a full heart.
My own personal suggestion? Nothing matters as much as your time. No one is so busy or so important that they can’t take at least an hour out of their day to visit with the people who need it the most and will appreciate it the deepest. Before my grandmother got Alzheimer’s, she absolutely cherished our visits more than anything. When my girls and I would go by to sit and talk with her, she would talk about it for days! She’d say things like, “I told Juanita (amongst her other partners in crime!) that my girls came by today and we had a lovely visit…” I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences. They’re faces light up and their lives light up.
Now doesn’t that sound like something you’d like to see more of?
Random acts of kindness week is February 15-21. Like most things, this kindness should start at home, then spread outward. Read more at random acts of kindness for seniors.