How Old Memories Shape Us
Do you remember those really old memories stuck in the very back of your brain? Think deep and hard about them, remembering whether they were from when you were a child or even if they are recent. Now, do any of these memories include an elder?
Think of how much this person or people have influenced and changed your life. It’s incredible to think that the time spent with them has shaped you into the person you are today, but it is sad because some of these elderly people do not get the recognition they deserve. That is exactly why I am writing this story. This story is about my Grandma Joan. She is one of the kindest and most loving people I know—I’m going to tell you some stories about her from when I was a kid.
As I imagine myself in my 7-year-old body, I think back to when my sisters and I would visit my grandma at her house. We would sleep there for a weekend and she would always take us to a store and let us pick out candy to take back to the house. Then, my cousin and I would go out back and ride bikes up and down the street and she would sit and watch over us to make sure we didn’t get hurt.
She was always considerate of other people and she always put others before herself. My grandma Joan would help my mom with the laundry and she would do the dishes and help clean my house. She would help me and my sister with our summer work and would always keep us on our toes.
My grandma is a very kind woman. She would not hurt a fly and she always cares for animals and insects. She grows a garden and always gives us vegetables to take home. She always feeds the birds that sit outside her house while she socializes with her neighbors.
My grandma taught me to be kind to all people and to always think positive, but she taught me to be strong and always put your family first. She shaped me into the woman I am today. She taught me to have empathy for others; she never judged anyone and always accepted people just the way that they were. My grandma Joan is filled with so much love and compassion. She has such a sweet voice that she uses to express her love. She inspired me to be an amazing human being just like she is.
I want to show others that our elders need to be loved and appreciated too. They need to be more appreciated because they turned us into the people we are today. They led the way for us to live an incredible life and they helped us grow. They taught us how to love and be strong at the same time. They still have so much wisdom that they can share with us. I hope this story can get you to write one of your own or even just to call one of your elders and tell them how much you love them—they deserve to hear that.
Samantha is a student who likes to play lacrosse, loves animals and has four dogs. She cares for other people and supports them for who they are. She also appreciates her family and her education very much.