Beauty of Age, Strength in Wisdom

I met a 105 year old woman yesterday. Her name is Gillian and she’s a powerhouse of beauty, strength, passion and deep wisdom.

Gillian lives in a residential care home that I visit every month. Many of the residents there enjoy hearing me tell stories from far and wide. Most of the stories are ancient narratives that have withstood the test of time; tales of endurance, of heart, of wisdom and wonder. This month I was sharing an old story from the Sufi tradition of storytelling.

Much of the time, I find it difficult to know how a story is being received. My job is to trust that the story is weaving its magic as people relax and and hearts open. Some people close their eyes and allow the imagination to transport them directly into the story while others gaze softly into space drifting between worlds.

True to tradition, afterwards I went round the circle inviting each person to share whatever they wanted to about the story. Joan smiled and said, “What a beautiful story.” Alan quietly thanked me while Pat smiled and said, “I always love your stories.”

And then I came to Gillian. As I leaned down to ask her how she found the experience, she reached out and took both my hands in hers. Surprised by the strength of her hold she pulled me closer and I knelt in front of her. Her eyes were bright and blue, her words were generous and heartfelt. With a clear, articulate voice she thanked me for taking the time to visit “the group and I’m the biggest idiot of the lot!” Her eyes twinkled as her laughter filled the room. “Thank you for doing what you do, thank you for the uplifting story,”

As she held my hands I could feel her vibrant appreciation reaching out, wrapping me in sweet embrace. Passion rose in her voice as she looked emphatically into my eyes and told me how precious it is that I’m doing something that I want to do because I love it and drawing me closer still she showered me with generous blessings.

I met a 105 year old woman yesterday. Her name is Gillian and she’s a powerhouse of beauty, strength, passion and deep wisdom.