In my late twenties I taught aqua-fitness for three years (three times a week). I was also teaching swimming to people afraid of the water. I had an amazing lady of 77 years old, that just began to love water at that age. It was beautiful to see her new love story with water as she was so scared of it for so many years before.
I was also finishing my bachelor in psychology at that time and thought about the incredible positive psychological impact all that had in her life. It was beautiful to see her evolve in the water.... playing and having fun! She felt so good about her swimming,that she started to become more active. She used to run on the her roof top, begun to do yoga again and she fell in love with a new neighbor.... her eyes were twinkling! she told me it was like when she was 16 years old.... ''Same, same thing, she insisted....''
She was very inspiring and inspired me to spend more time with my own grandma. My grandma had some physical problems, and I decided to help her do some exercise. We did it once every two weeks and we ended up doing it for around 15 years!
The greatest part of that story is that we developed a new kind of really fun relationship together. We started to go out shopping with her wheel chair and we talked a lot and shared really fun moments. I used to wheel her down the shopping isles, because I was happy to show a different view of an elderly person, siting in a wheel chair.
All her physical difficulties, were not a burden but rather she would feel stronger by our time together. And so would I! I am really happy that I made that decision in my late twenties. My grandma is not with us anymore, but I know that, the fact that someone in the family was close to her as I was, made her live a much longer and better quality, happier life, then if I had not been there....
And I really did it because i felt like doing it. Nothing to do with feeling obligated to do so. I always encouraged her to be independent and strong and to learn new skills to keep her independence,as long as she could.
And she did.... at 80 something she was able to pay her bills on the internet, send cards, receive photos of her great grand children, play games with her son.
Now i miss her very much, but I am really happy reminiscing all those fun memories we had together; I would say, as "friends", because that is how I felt about her, in the end.
If everybody spent more time with their elderly and loved ones, I think that nobody would ever feel lonely. Who in your family could you give a little more time too?
I was also finishing my bachelor in psychology at that time and thought about the incredible positive psychological impact all that had in her life. It was beautiful to see her evolve in the water.... playing and having fun! She felt so good about her swimming,that she started to become more active. She used to run on the her roof top, begun to do yoga again and she fell in love with a new neighbor.... her eyes were twinkling! she told me it was like when she was 16 years old.... ''Same, same thing, she insisted....''
She was very inspiring and inspired me to spend more time with my own grandma. My grandma had some physical problems, and I decided to help her do some exercise. We did it once every two weeks and we ended up doing it for around 15 years!
The greatest part of that story is that we developed a new kind of really fun relationship together. We started to go out shopping with her wheel chair and we talked a lot and shared really fun moments. I used to wheel her down the shopping isles, because I was happy to show a different view of an elderly person, siting in a wheel chair.
All her physical difficulties, were not a burden but rather she would feel stronger by our time together. And so would I! I am really happy that I made that decision in my late twenties. My grandma is not with us anymore, but I know that, the fact that someone in the family was close to her as I was, made her live a much longer and better quality, happier life, then if I had not been there....
And I really did it because i felt like doing it. Nothing to do with feeling obligated to do so. I always encouraged her to be independent and strong and to learn new skills to keep her independence,as long as she could.
And she did.... at 80 something she was able to pay her bills on the internet, send cards, receive photos of her great grand children, play games with her son.
Now i miss her very much, but I am really happy reminiscing all those fun memories we had together; I would say, as "friends", because that is how I felt about her, in the end.
If everybody spent more time with their elderly and loved ones, I think that nobody would ever feel lonely. Who in your family could you give a little more time too?
3386 Reads
- Posted by quebecutopia
- Dec 25, 2014
- Comments (10)
Readers Comments
sandyremillard wrote: Beautiful memories, enrichening moments shared. You have opened to the beautiful aspects of life! Bless you.
kindkristi wrote: That's a beautiful story. Inspires me to love the elderly in my life even more
givemore wrote: Very inspiring to spend more time as friends with our own people :)
Thanks
Thanks
Mish wrote: :)) As an "elder" I salute you & as a human I celebrate you! ((((HUGS))))
lieveliene wrote: Your story is so sweet and inspiring, and a lovely photo with your grandma! Hold on to those happy memories and thanks for sharing this, wonderful!
quebecutopia wrote: Thanks Mish!! And lieveliene too! Big virtual hugs to you two!!
leoladyc728 wrote: My grandmother and I had an amazing relationship too. I have so many fond memories of her. Glad you got to spend the time with your grandmother.
quebecutopia wrote: I had a wonderful relationship with my other grandma too.... Grandmas are amazingly precious!! I am feel so grateful that i had them!!
debbe530 wrote: What a sweet, wonderful story. What a blessing for both of you.
mindyjourney wrote: How fortunate you were to spend so much quality with your grandma! Wonderful connection that spanned generations.
