It amazes me how things come into our awareness for whatever reason. Many things are sent to us to see a different understanding or a new prospective on how we judge others. All too easy we see things only though our own filters and if we take the time to stop.... and see it another way.....or just look at it through someone else's belief system....we can gain so much more. You don't have to change your mind, but merely open yourself to the thought that NOT all people see it the same way as you do.
When we take a minute to stop trying to justify our thoughts/actions, make our beliefs right and others wrong you just may surprise yourself ! You may find compassion/empathy for others and a deeper understanding of who you are.
I received this email from a friend and I connected to this idea. Not all people in caring positions truly see the person that they are there to help. Maybe this is a judgement on my part, as I have experienced situations for myself and with loved ones. Sometimes health care workers forget to be compassionate to the people around them. They are human too. We all have good and bad days, but this poem can give some greater understanding to all of us that we need to embrace all people, seeing the person within, not only the physical form.
I too will reflect and see who they are, not what they believe in.......food for thought!!
***************************************************************************
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Melbourne.
The old man's sole bequest has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and in magazines for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem. This old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . . . . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . .. . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . .. 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not .. . . . . . . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . . you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . . . . . . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . . with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . . . .. ... . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . ... . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. . . . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . ... . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . . . . .. My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . . . . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, . . ... . . . ..Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . . .... . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . .. . . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . . . . and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. . . . ... . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone .. . . . . .. . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . .. A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . .. . . . my battered heart swells I remember the joys . .. . . . .
I remember the pain. And I'm loving and living . . . . .. . . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years . all too few . . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . . . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man.
Look closer . . . . see . . . . . .... . ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within . ... . . . we will all, one day, be there, too!
PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM,The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment