The Forgotten People

The Story:

     A few years ago, I used to work as a nurse’s aide at a nursing home on Whidbey Island. They can be such sad places. No one wants to live there, half the time it doesn’t seem like living. There are however, people whom can take the dullness out of life and make the residents feel less like patients and more like people.
     The aide whom was training me was awesome. Everyone loved her; she was brilliant with the residents. She could diffuse any situation. She made them feel loved and special. If there was an embarrassing situation for someone she made a joke or statement that took the focus off the situation.
     Once when a resident passed gas, got embarrassed and apologized, the aide said she said, “Better out than in, I always say.” The lady smiled. No worries, just like that.
     She once said, early on in my training, “ I’m a big believer in Karma. What goes around comes around. I treat them the way I would want to be treated if I were here. Someday, hopefully it will come back to me. I’ll have someone nice to care for me. You’ll do fine if you remember that they are all people and deserve to be treated kindly.”
     I’d like to think that I did. All the residents loved me because I actually talked to them and looked them in the eye. I hugged them when they cried, high-fived them whenever there was a hand raised in celebration. Doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone deserves to be listened to. Everyone should have a hug.

The Karma:

     My interpretation of the karma would be she reminded me about the forgotten people of our society. It changed my outlook on life. They deserve consideration too. Just because they are old and wrinkly doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. Her actions and words created in me one more person whom will treat the elderly kindly.