I See Old People…
My sixteen year old daughter rolls her eyes to the Heavens again. She has a wry smile in the corner of her mouth and I am trying not to notice or giggle.
You see, I know what she is thinking. “Here we go again….”. It happens all the time, in the strangest of situations – Petrol stations, Shopping Centres (coffee shops are really bad), walking the dog.
Old people find me. All the time. Or I find them. I’m confused. Either way, the result is always the same.
Not long ago I was shopping with said sixteen year old. I had managed to pry her off her phone for a good twenty minutes (go me!) and take her to Coles. Yes, we have lots of fun in our house.
So we’re putting the shopping in the boot when an elderly gentleman who is doing the same starts to have a chat.
Now as soon as an Oldie opens up the door to a conversation, I am in. I could (let just say could) spend a good hour having a chat to a random old person who needs a good chin wag.
This lovely man, who I could clearly see was lonely, started a brief conversation that I very gently prolonged by asking a few good questions and we made a true connection. It was a great.
He told me where he lives (general area – I’m not a stalker), about the recent death of his much loved wife, how he’s coping without her and the life changes he’s made since then.
We talked for a good half hour. Darling daughter gave up halfway through trying to look interested and took cover in the car on her phone.
This dismayed me greatly.
She could have learnt a thing or two from this man. Things like resilience, managing grief and dealing with loneliness. Universal challenges that everyone will face at some point in their lives, even ego-centric sixteen year olds.
Old people are invisible to most. Ageism is rife in Australia and little to no value is placed on the knowledge and life experience our older generation has.
We are all idiots (sorry to be blunt). I feel like I am the only one with this huge secret. I need to share it. I hope a few people listen and take it on board.
Open your heart to an older stranger. I guarantee you will receive back a gift that you never knew you needed. You will find a reward there, within their insights and knowledge that will be like a soothing balm for our weary and anxious younger souls.
Go on try it. What do you have to lose? And if you can do it in front of a bored, disinterested teenager, even better. Who knows, they might even learn something once they stop rolling their eyes.
Ness x