Respect the Elderly

Audio By Carbonatix

I recognize that the elderly can often be forgotten or made to feel diminished in our society. That’s why I try to go out of my way to thank this group for all that they have done to pave the way for us to have the benefits and privileges that we enjoy today. I’m talking about things like freedom, paved roads, and great organizations. And when I say diminished, I’m talking about things like how stores don’t cater to them or how sometimes the elderly are forgotten when it comes to decisions that are made at the local and state government levels. In addition, they are often made fun of because of things like their driving skills or their lack of social acuteness or technical savvy. I’m saddened when I hear comments of that nature because I have always believed that one of the great symptoms of a healthy civilization is when the elderly are respected and appreciated.

Eastern cultures have a tendency to revere the elderly in their societies more than we do here in the West. For example, in China, the oldest person in a family or an organization has the most respect, honor, and dignity. Children take care of their parents when they get older. In the business world, the junior members of an organization will not make a decision without the consent of the most senior member. 

Obviously, the customs in China are merely examples and are not meant to be the solution, but it’s interesting to see the contrast to how many Westerners act in all of those scenarios above. I use it as an example to simply make all of us stop and think about how we treat the elderly. Do you seek the wisdom of those senior to you or do you just assume that they are out of touch? Are you patient to hear them out—especially if their thoughts don’t flow smoothly? Do you show empathy for their medical issues? 

The elderly also need to examine their lifestyles and attitudes to determine where they can make changes. Do you make a conscious effort to stay informed about the world around you instead of just complaining about it? Are you staying involved in life so that you can contribute something interesting to a conversation instead of just talking about the past? Do you talk too much about your aches and pains?

Some of the wisest people who are around our towns and in our local social environments are the elderly. If we took the time to simply ask them their thoughts and ideas, we could probably gain some incredible insight and win more often at home.