A Blip In Time

Life is just carrying on as it does when all of a sudden you notice something a bit different with a story from your elderly parent.

Throughout your life, you've heard their stories over and over, but today, that all too familiar story has changed.

Perhaps there is a big gap of detail missing, or maybe it was altered in some other way.

This change from the usual and familiar doesn't make sense. You question it internally because, over the years, you’ve heard that story the familiar way and not this version.

Rather than letting your thoughts run away with themselves and assume the worst, you decide to catch your thoughts. This could be just a mind's blip in the moment of recall. No harm and no foul after all, in that moment.

But ask yourself, prior to the blip, did you notice if you had been somewhat tuned out during the story? And when the blip did happen, did you have to catch yourself from the immediate need to want to correct and to validate our own recollection of the story? After all, when a story is “off,” it can be a springboard to bring you back into the present moment. How do you want to return?

The present moment is all we have, and we can honor those around us by being present with them and what they have to say.

What a gift active listening is for your elderly parent—for us all really!

Remember to listen and to decide ahead before you speak whether correction needs to be made and if so, then tell yourself why. Does it matter that a detail is missing or altered in a story? If yes, then tenderness can be delivered alongside.

Enjoy your time together. Enjoy this present moment you have with each other.

It truly is a gift.