Day 618
"Patience"...
The compacity to stay calm.
Waiting without agitation or complaining.
Suppressing restlessness.
...is a virtue.
Today, we put "patience" to the test on our return visit to Walker Plaza.
Visiting our regulars is a gift each week, however there can be a few stories repeated or long walks down Memory Lane. We love and respect our friends and listen to their stories more than once with a feeling of gratitude for what we gain each time the story is told. There is wisdom, history, heart and so much more with these tales from days gone by and we are the ears that have the privilege of walking in their shoes.
With each visit, the goal is to stay in the moment without any outside static or mental escape. To accomplish this, I visualize the stories as they are told so it is like watching a favorite movie more than once. "Patience" means denying the urge to check my watch, using eye contact throughout and suppressing any restless actions which might make our friends feel they are not honored. Lilly and I are a pretty good team at this...of course, she does tend to nap which is off limits to her partner!
On this day, the usual stories led to new ones that emerged along those Memory Lane walks. One friend looked surprised that a certain memory had surfaced after so many years. As he told it, he apologized for the tears. Wiping tears from my own eyes, I smiled and assured him that was fine. I was there in the orphanage with him, scared, lonely and hopeless. As he relived his memory, my heart walked right alongside this gentle giant. When we parted, I hugged him and thanked him for sharing his life.
Sometimes we ache for the children our friends once were...their hardships, loss and sadness. Other times, we envy the simple lives they lived. Always, we are present, "patient" and engaged with the memory playing across their mind. For some, their stories are so vivid and some of the few treasured things they still possess.
We met two new friends today and dug a little deeper into the "patience" well when the scrapbooks emerged. Lilly is the perfect partner as she becomes restless when we overstay our time in any one place. When she stands and wags her tail, our friends accept that the visit has run its course. We always promise to return soon!
Is "patience" a virtue? In my opinion, it is more of a practiced respect, empathy and honoring for others. It is not always the easiest role to play, but it is the kindest and most loving. Through patience, I have attempted to walk in the footsteps of our friends and have discovered a deep compassion for the elderly. Actually, it is a gift they give to me. Along with their stories comes love and that is always the best payoff ever!
