One of the five most important women in my life is my grandma. She is not only the last grandparent that I and the rest of my cousins have, she is our role model. Just over two weeks ago she came from the Philippines to stay with my family. The day was wonderful for all of us. For me it has been a good number of years since I have been in contact with her and yet she looks and acts the same. This had led me to describe her as a truly timeless women and the respect and admiration that I hold towards her had to transpose itself into today's blog post.
I gladly then, write to you all today on the importance of respecting not just the elderly but those who are of key note importance in your family. I want you to come away from today's post with the understanding of the lessons that one can learn from them, and the wisdom that you can gain by spending more time with them.
My grandma is a very gentle person and deals with affairs slowly and patiently. This may not be a quality inherent with every elderly person (I know some who prefer to talk non-stop) but I feel that with my grandma the idea of being all listening, all caring and not necessarily at the forefront of all things yet being aware of them is a great first step. There is something in our young blood that loves to act fast, do things fast and get results quickly. Yet, when I look into her eyes there is a quiet brilliance there that tells you to slow down, and to take it easy. It is the look of many more years of experience than my own. It reminds me, perhaps rather morbidly of the fragility of life itself and how the youth are always making drastic changes without thinking slowly and reflectively about the consequences. Hence, early marriages, reckless relationships, crazy career paths and regrettable roads. The fact that death is the place waiting for all of us gave me the beautiful thought of taking a few steps back each day to really question your actions and that stepping back may give you a clearer perception of the entire picture ahead of you.
Grandma is also very good with her resources. Being from a third world country, my Grandma was not only adamant on saving water, electricity, money and food, she encouraged all of us to save more. Again, the elderly mindset is often (but not always) conservative. The elderly body is more fragile and needs to conserve its energy: its breaths are more important than ours, and moving is spent on the most important things; the most productive things. The elderly teach us not to take small things for granted, to save for what we need, and not what we want. Consequently because of their immunity and ignorance to most modern technology, they live more rewarding and sensible lives.
Grandma also taught me how to look more within. Although she has an adorable habit of showering me with compliments: "Oooooh guapo si apo!" there is also a sense of wonderment that I receive whenever looking into the elderly's eyes. It is the eyes, that refuse to age. I can see the spark and the magic there, and you can almost picture them when they were young. This idea of being less narcissistic about yourself and more conscious of the wisdom that flows from your mouth is fundamental. It is very easy to be physically beautiful. The challenge I propose is to be beautifully wise. I have been of the thought since a child that the elderly can almost see through you and know your mis-deeds, not because they have any special powers like Gandalf or Dumbledore, but because they have seen those looks on your face a thousand times. Know then, that experience comes with time and not with speed, but we can spend our speed on wisdom and with wisdom we can become greater human beings.
This leads me onto my final point. The cycle of children to the elderly. It has always made me smile that like children the elderly need to be cared and looked after. That the elderly are in wonder at new things and constantly want to be involved and knowing about all affairs just like children. It is also beautiful to think that the elderly shrink, as if almost to meet their child like selves and to complete the cycle. Just know that every generation of life, young and old can learn from one another but the fundamental lessons that stay with you are best learnt from those who go before you, and those who you consider too young to teach you.
Until next time :)
No comments:
Post a Comment