May is Older Americans Month: 31 days dedicated to celebrating seniors and the many ways they contribute to our nation and the world.
While some may consider “old folks” to be a hindrance, in the way, and still taking up good jobs, those who see the bigger picture, realize how important they are in our lives.
In the early 70s, Bill Withers touched our hearts with a song titled “Grandma’s Hands.”
He reminded us that grandma’s hands served a myriad of purposes: clapping or playing a tambourine on Sunday morning; soothing an unwed mother; handing a child a piece of candy or picking them up when they fell.
Withers could have extended his three-minute tribute to an opera if he had wanted because of the ingenuity and wisdom seniors possess and the many ways they enhance our lives by their mere presence.
From volunteer work all the way to Capitol Hill, many older Americans aren’t slowing down.
As volunteers, seniors read or tutor children, serve food at homeless shelters, and rock and cuddle babies – whether those infants are related to them or not.
Youth can benefit from securing a relationship with older adults who have life experience and who are a gold mine of institutional memories. History comes alive when we’re willing to sit at the feet of someone who has lived that history
As fearless fighters on Capitol Hill, people such as Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), 86, and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), 87, show that age ain’t nothing but a number when holding fellow political leaders and presidents alike to task.
Then, there are the skills honed by older Americans that may not be as widely taught today but which are still valuable. Most young people don’t know how to start a fire, can fruits and jellies, produce wood carvings or create something useful with leather. Sure, one can learn with a YouTube video. But isn’t it more fun to learn while conversing face-to-face with an older adult?
Finally, older Americans – those who have weathered the storms of life – have an abundance of knowledge and wisdom to share.
Sometimes, we assume that our grandparents are being bossy or that they want to give us unwanted advice – raining on our parade.
But when wisdom is shared with love, it can help younger folks avoid making the same mistakes that the elderly either committed or witnessed.
It’s Older Americans Month. Let’s listen to the older adults in our lives, celebrate their contributions and wisdom and make them feel appreciated this month and beyond.