Making Each Person Count

I look at my mom, barely saying five words to her when she gets home. Somehow I cannot strike up that conversation. It has been like this for years. There are exceptions when we make minor jokes about my dad, or there is a family event. It is strange how I can easily strike up a long conversation with someone who delivers my pizza, than making friendly repertoire with the woman who deserves it most.

The lesson today is really about each individual in your life. I would like to focus on our clients. I wonder how often their loved ones or significant others spend time and ask them questions and wait for the answers on what they like or what they did.

Part of the program, not specified in our responsibilities is socialization with people who are the most vulnerable in our community. A while ago, Department of Aging held a poster contest. Come up with artwork and a message that has to do with the senior population. The winners came up with "Seniors are our National Treasure". The message we try to convey is often the very message that is ignored, perhaps not consciously but it is because we do not know how. The easiest thing now is to just listen. Sit comfortably next to them. Tell them you really want to hear what they have to say. Sometimes, it is not easy listening. We all have problems of our own. But imagine that the five minutes you spend listening to what they want to do or what food they do not like, it might make it easier to take care of them. The bonus is that it makes you feel better about yourself because you actually made a difference without spending a penny. Do not count the people, but count the smiles you brought to their faces.