To be Kind to the Old
53When I wrote When I Grow Old, I was actually inspired by the thought I had been contemplating on for days - the day that I grow old or advanced in years.
Though the old will admit it or not, some of them really suck big time at 'being old'. (Pardon the grammar.) And unfortunately, the young also failed in their roles like caring for the old. What is sad is some only cared because of money or some benefits that they can get doing something for their old folks. Untrue? It is not. Trust me there are real life scenarios that I witnessed.
It would be selfish to think that you should only be good to these old people because they will be leaving an attractive heap of inheritance. If you had been cold, or had been ignoring them for sometime now, why not make a change about the whole scenario, and 'be good' to them? Remember, you, too, will grow old one day:
1. Greet them always with something like, "Good morning, Grandma! How's your day?" Always ask them if they have eaten already. Show some concern. Offer massaging their backs, or their feet.
2. Give a reason for them to miss you, or to look for you whenever you are not around.
3. Try your best always to be of help to your grandparents. Whatever they are doing that you think will need your assistance, do not hesitate to offer your help.
4. Visit them in the hospital when they are sick. Do not forget to do this.
5. Suggest a day when you can do things with them like going to the mall, or to a par, or to a restaurant to eat out.
6. Do not do something to stress them. If they want you to be home early, do it for them.
7. If they get irritated easily, and tend to say nasty things, be patient and do not mind. Who should understand them better but those around them, and their family?
8. Your grandparents have lots of life experiences. They had gone so much in their lives. Respect them and be thankful for their knowledge.
9. Be honest telling your grandparents what annoys you. They have to know them, too, to avoid misunderstanding. However, do it nicely.
10. Avoid reacting easily against your grandparents' tantrums. Respect them and be patient.
11. Be very calm when you talk to them, or reason with them, when there is an argument.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Well written Hub with lots of good pointers for our interpersonal relationships with elders...So very much lacking here in the US... We are a self-absorbed society starting with the baby-boomers through the current cultural incarnation...Thank you for this, Larry
hi, BkCreative. it doesn't have to be a complicated thing to serve the elders and be good to them though some find it a hard thing to do. in the Philippines, the old are special people and treated mostly with respect but there are also exemptions. there are young ones here who do not know how to respect the old. it was not like before, the elders say, where the young are always giving respect and reverence to the old ones.
hi, maven101. it is really sad when the youth are so self-absorbed forgetting to respect the elders. thank you for visiting.
Totally agree - We must be extra kind to the old. Everyone in life will be old one day (well most). Life is Karma. If people are horrible to their elders, when they grow old, it will happen to them too.
Bingskee, don't you find old people are also funny. They sit you down and tell you funny stories, sometimes about their lives and you laugh so much.
Thanks for Sharing. :)
Great Hub and very useful suggestions. I was unfortunate in only having one grandparent still alive when I was born, but I loved her very dearly. She was my father's mother and she died some 30 years ago at the age of 96, still fairly active and of sound mind! A blessing it was to know her.
Love and peace
Tony
hi, Lady_E. the saying is also equivalent to 'do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you'. i agree that some old people are really funny but most of them are grumpy ha ha
hey, tonymac! nice of you to be sharing your thoughts here. and it's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the company of your grandma.
That's right, kids these days needs to respect the elder more. My senior clients always appreciates a good pedicure with a hug.
I always try and treat the elderly with respect because I know one day that's going to be me, and I want the same kind of treatment! Lol. But I also do it because it's the right thing.
As you say, if we get old enough we will all be in their place someday hoping to see some cheerful faces taking care of us. Good suggestions for everyone to heed.
the littlest of things can count. though they do not express gratitude anymore, i think they notice the littlest things that we do for these old people, mayhmong!
very true, misthaven! someday it will have to be us. :-D
hi, Peggy! i hope so, too!
BkCreative says:
4 months ago
I'm glad you wrote this Bingskee!
It was such a pleasure living abroad in S. Korea then traveling to China, Singapore, Bangkok, as well as Senegal, and so many countries in the world where elders are not only respected but revered.
This is not the case in the USA (although it was at one time in parts of the South) - where youth is revered but I think that is because they are so easily exploited - and have been.
This is a nice list of simple suggestions - that will bring us all closer together. There is so much to learn from elders. We may not always listen to them but we do hear them - and one day in the future their words of wisdom will empower us.
Lovely hub!