I think this blog is more of a question than anything else. More of an invitation for readers, people, and society to ponder with me.
When a car shows wear and tear, we repair what needs repairing, replace parts, and give it what it needs to keep working. When a car gets really old, we call it a classic; we restore it (give it lots and lots of TLC) and ooh and ahh over its beauty, the power it once had, and the era in which it was made. I’m not criticizing classic cars at all; I just wonder if we have misplaced our respect and admiration for things like cars…and neglected the value, beauty, and richness of our older folks’ lives. Sure, cars can be less complicated, but they are also objects.
We say of classic cars and antiques, “Oh, I wish they could talk and tell us their stories.”
Many of our elders, those who have lived through wars, dust bowl days, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and more, can talk…yet do we ask them to share their stories, triumphs, struggles, perspectives, and wisdom? Do we settle into a chair beside them and listen?
I understand the history behind generational segregation and seniors living apart from their families. Maybe Social Security has not done us many favors by prompting families to believe that they could live in different places and still be okay? I hear so often, “Oh, I don’t want to be a burden on my family.” But when did taking care of our own become a burden? When did we forget that life happens on a bell curve where we begin life dependent on others, and (if we live long enough) we end life needing help from others?
As someone who has the privilege of spending time with older folks, I just want to say that if we are not listening to our older folks, we are missing out. We are missing out on the lessons, stories, perspectives, and wisdom that our older folks possess. We are missing out on the chance to extend love and kindness to people who have lived longer than us.
Older folks will always be worth more than a classic car; let’s consider them to be the treasures that they are and honor them as they deserve.
Jill ©Jill Couch
