January 10 – Respecting your Elders: Visit a local elderly-care facility or retirement community and pay your respects — Ask the residents there for their Life-Advice. Ask them what they think “the Meaning to Life” is. Ask them to tell you their Life stories. Ask them if there is anything your can do for them … Most importantly: Listen! Bonus Activity: As you depart, ask an attendant for the name(s) of the resident(s) who seldom get mail. Send that person(s) an anonymous card of Appreciation today.

It makes sense that those individuals who have lived more years will generally have also lived through more of the experiences from which we learn; the experiences that tend to make such people “wise”. As such, it also makes sense, if we sincerely wish to learn a smoother Path through life, that we seek out such “elders” from whom we can gather such knowledge.

Let me remind everyone that advanced age does not guarantee one Wisdom. Many times our elders teach us more about how not to live Peace-fully than they teach us about “the Meaning of Life”. Just like others of all ages, our elders sometimes exhibit behaviors that are lacking in compassion,

or lacking in Self-Respect,

or lacking in self-discipline.

That having been said, it is always wise to be courageous enough to ask our elders for their life-advice, and it is equally wise to be humbly enough to sincerely listen to their answers; some of which can prove to be quite enlightening in-deed.

Some elders re-mind us to always Be exactly where you Are.

Some elders re-mind us that true spiritual reverence requires that we actually do something for others.

Some elders re-mind us that God is a verb.

And some elders re-mind us that everything is interconnected, and that we should act accordingly.

As far as my own interview of elders is concerned, here are some of the answers I received:

“The Meaning of Life is to experience gifts of listening, to reach out in meaningful ways, to remove doubt, ands to encourage & uplift others.” ~ Evelyn

“The Meaning of Life is waking up to real-eyes that I am one with the Love I searched for.” ~ Pam

“The Meaning of Life is to come to know of our oneness with our Creator by realizing our self & our Creator in everyone else.” ~ Valerie

“Whenever I decide something using kindness, I usually make the right decision.” ~ anonymous

“Every day you should reach out and touch people. People love touch – holding hands, a warm hug, or even just a friendly pat on the back.” ~ unknown

And finally, not to be forgotten are the Wisdoms we can all glean from our spiritual elders – the children …

“When my grandma got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandpa does it for her now all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” ~ Rebecca (age 8).

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” ~ Chrissy (age 6).

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” ~ Terri (age 4).

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” ~ Bobby (age 7).

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” ~ Nikka (age 6).

See You when I see you …

… and until then, Be Now!

Scaughdt

Filed under: 366 Days of Kindness by Scaughdt