Armistice Day – the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that marked the end of the First World War in 1918 – is marked every year on 11 November.
In my life I have been fortunate to hear some pretty amazing stories, some that leave me pondering about the immediate problems facing our senior population, others take me back in time that leave me feeling like "how did they endure?" No matter what was shared I am always amazed at the courage and strength. While this is a time of year for remembrance, I want to leave you with this thought as well. There is a large portion of our senior population today who are disconnected with human connection and very lonely, it is a problem of epic proportion. I bring this up from a deep understanding rooted in experience of how families can become disconnected for a variety of reasons and how deep pain has stopped some people from reconciling their differences. Healthcare workers see a lot of this if they spend time helping seniors transition from a family home to needing more assistance. While that is a totally different topic the underlying current is many of our seniors today in life are battling some sort of struggle in their own lives, helping them maintain their dignity and offering time and compassion is like the sun rising every day in their lives!
As you read some of the comments from stories shared with me from seniors, here are some of the common words shared to describe what I heard: "Respect", "History", "Family Protectors", "Brotherhood", "Thankfulness", "Freedom", "Sisterhood", "Never Forget", "Emotional" and " War"
Last year at this time I asked a few residents at the retirement home I was working for, what do you remember most about Remembrance Day growing up? (All were over the age of 80)
Note: I will not use names and here are some comments:
"My parents never wanted me to forget the price of freedom and what previous generations had to go through to provide us with the life we have today! Mom would dress me in my finest"
(This comment came to me in 2017 while at Kingston General Hospital) "You know Danielle, here I am a grown man who has lived my life and this makes me cry. I have Brain Cancer and maybe a few weeks left, please sit with me for awhile. (He would fall asleep at the drop of a hat-his bed was beside my mothers) I pinned a poppy to his hospital curtain. After about 4-5 minutes he said what I remember most is the men in my life who were at the war would not talk about their experience, it was like a brotherhood. They knew what they saw was more than most could take, with memories too painful. To not talk about it was a source of protection and brotherhood code.
" I was taught that I have so much to be thankful for that happened before I was born, my parents would take me to the cenotaph and tell me stories of the people in my family that I never met. I remember it could be as cold and miserable as ever and my parents just kept layering the clothes on to attend the ceremony, my pea coat would not button up. I always welcomed a hot chocolate afterwards."
"My parents always said no matter your generation, learning the history of our freedom is a fundamental necessity, how do you know what to be thankful for if you don't know your roots."
"Never Forget"
While I do not remember much about the day, I do remember when I was a little girl our beaches were raided and we would find the nearest shelter. Everyday Mom packed my gas mask in my bag when attending school.
For the Baby Boomer generation (roughly defined as those born between 1946 and 1964) they grew up in the aftermath of World War II, and many of them were influenced by the war in different ways, even though most of them were too young to have fought in it themselves. For many Baby Boomers, the war was an ever-present part of their upbringing—shaped by the stories and experiences of their parents, relatives, and the broader cultural landscape of the time. To our current generation, we will have the stories from the boomers and the responsibility to keep the memories alive.
Yesterday, I spent time talking to a lady who spent her years as a nurse and worked with the College of Physicians and Nursing. She is not quite at the age where a seniors community home is right for her but notes that the time is getting close. There was an event being hosted to supply seniors with information in the community, the turn out was great. We talked specifically about seniors and loneliness and I will leave you with the most amazing story she shared: I am going to call this lady "Rose". Rose had a neighbour who did not have a lot of family or close family relationships. The two became very close and Rose would travel for work often. Rose decided to take her friend on some of those trips. We talked about how the extension of family goes far beyond just blood and if given the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life it has this awesome effect of transforming your life and theirs. Together we agreed that the absence of connection for any one person is not only traumatic but takes away from someones quality of life and reason for living. What we are all capable of is Kindness, and we must choose it. Yes kindness takes extra time and effort, but I cannot think of anything more worthwhile! Can you?
I am wishing you a wonderful Friday and hoping this Remembrance Day you can reflect on past and present. Those who have lived years beyond us, have life rich education and most want to have a chance to tell their story. Reminiscing engages their memory and will leave your cup full listening and theirs by stepping back in time!
Warm regards,
Danielle Pointon
Live Blue Consulting
PS- This is a picture of how the seniors were so engaged from excellent community speakers and businesses.
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