so I’m gonna be talking a little bit today about why goodness is such a good
today about why goodness is such a good
today about why goodness is such a good thing so these people in this wonderful
thing so these people in this wonderful
thing so these people in this wonderful picture are the staff of a Alzheimer’s
picture are the staff of a Alzheimer’s
picture are the staff of a Alzheimer’s and mensches day service called be our
and mensches day service called be our
and mensches day service called be our guest Elvis does not work with us for
guest Elvis does not work with us for
guest Elvis does not work with us for obvious reasons unfortunately but for
obvious reasons unfortunately but for
obvious reasons unfortunately but for two hours of my school day four days a
two hours of my school day four days a
two hours of my school day four days a week I spend time with these people and
week I spend time with these people and
week I spend time with these people and the guests that I’ve now come to know
the guests that I’ve now come to know
the guests that I’ve now come to know everyone’s name so a little bit about
everyone’s name so a little bit about
everyone’s name so a little bit about the program itself is that we’re doing
the program itself is that we’re doing
the program itself is that we’re doing daily activities with these guests every
daily activities with these guests every
daily activities with these guests every day so most of the time we’re just
day so most of the time we’re just
day so most of the time we’re just playing games and we’re we get any type
playing games and we’re we get any type
playing games and we’re we get any type of cognitive stimulation going so I’ll
of cognitive stimulation going so I’ll
of cognitive stimulation going so I’ll very common and popular favorite is
very common and popular favorite is
very common and popular favorite is Bunco which is a dice game where you’re
Bunco which is a dice game where you’re
Bunco which is a dice game where you’re looking for numbers to get points I get
looking for numbers to get points I get
looking for numbers to get points I get a little too competitive
a little too competitive
a little too competitive during this which is a little awkward
during this which is a little awkward
during this which is a little awkward but at the same time we’re also playing
but at the same time we’re also playing
but at the same time we’re also playing jeopardy any type of word games anything
jeopardy any type of word games anything
jeopardy any type of word games anything to kind of keep them remembering the
to kind of keep them remembering the
to kind of keep them remembering the same topic over and over again two or
same topic over and over again two or
same topic over and over again two or three times a week we have music come in
three times a week we have music come in
three times a week we have music come in and perform for them it’s nothing really
and perform for them it’s nothing really
and perform for them it’s nothing really pop-culture like Khalid or anything that
pop-culture like Khalid or anything that
pop-culture like Khalid or anything that I can really enjoy but older country
I can really enjoy but older country
I can really enjoy but older country really pleases them and it’s an
really pleases them and it’s an
really pleases them and it’s an environment and culture that they all
environment and culture that they all
environment and culture that they all share so they really enjoy that and I
share so they really enjoy that and I
share so they really enjoy that and I think one of the most valuable things
think one of the most valuable things
think one of the most valuable things that’s created there every single day is
that’s created there every single day is
that’s created there every single day is the environment that the guests make
the environment that the guests make
the environment that the guests make themselves so as you can see these
themselves so as you can see these
themselves so as you can see these people are just the most loving group of
people are just the most loving group of
people are just the most loving group of elderly I guess you could say that I’ve
elderly I guess you could say that I’ve
elderly I guess you could say that I’ve ever met they are a bunch of different
ever met they are a bunch of different
ever met they are a bunch of different kinds of personalities that come
kinds of personalities that come
kinds of personalities that come together over something they don’t even
together over something they don’t even
together over something they don’t even know that they really have most of the
know that they really have most of the
know that they really have most of the time and I actually like to say that
time and I actually like to say that
time and I actually like to say that they’ve forgotten how to be mean they’re
they’ve forgotten how to be mean they’re
they’ve forgotten how to be mean they’re always giving compliments in saying
always giving compliments in saying
always giving compliments in saying thank you for all these things that
thank you for all these things that
thank you for all these things that these people do for them and they’re
these people do for them and they’re
these people do for them and they’re just genuinely the most caring group
just genuinely the most caring group
just genuinely the most caring group that I’ve ever met in society at least
that I’ve ever met in society at least
that I’ve ever met in society at least and a really good example of this is
and a really good example of this is
and a really good example of this is when I was actually getting quotes for
when I was actually getting quotes for
when I was actually getting quotes for this talk one of our one of my favorite
this talk one of our one of my favorite
this talk one of our one of my favorite don’t tell anybody else that book one of
don’t tell anybody else that book one of
don’t tell anybody else that book one of my favorite gas uh was saying that his
my favorite gas uh was saying that his
my favorite gas uh was saying that his best advice he could give me is that he
best advice he could give me is that he
best advice he could give me is that he loves me and that he loves everyone here
loves me and that he loves everyone here
loves me and that he loves everyone here and so that was just that just kind of
and so that was just that just kind of
and so that was just that just kind of shows you the kind of attitude that they
shows you the kind of attitude that they
shows you the kind of attitude that they have towards people and towards others
have towards people and towards others
have towards people and towards others and that little things don’t really
and that little things don’t really
and that little things don’t really matter for them it’s just kindness that
matter for them it’s just kindness that
matter for them it’s just kindness that matters so back to the actual program
matters so back to the actual program
matters so back to the actual program they have larger events that happen
they have larger events that happen
they have larger events that happen maybe like once a month or so you can
maybe like once a month or so you can
maybe like once a month or so you can see in these pictures we had a petting
see in these pictures we had a petting
see in these pictures we had a petting zoo come in in their own backyard
zoo come in in their own backyard
zoo come in in their own backyard which was really sweet they got to you
which was really sweet they got to you
which was really sweet they got to you ride a pony and cart they got to play
ride a pony and cart they got to play
ride a pony and cart they got to play with all of the little animals and all
with all of the little animals and all
with all of the little animals and all of that stuff but I think what was
of that stuff but I think what was
of that stuff but I think what was really cool for me that day was I
really cool for me that day was I
really cool for me that day was I actually got to interact with their
actually got to interact with their
actually got to interact with their families which I don’t actually meet
families which I don’t actually meet
families which I don’t actually meet their families or their caregivers that
their families or their caregivers that
their families or their caregivers that often I don’t speak to them so being
often I don’t speak to them so being
often I don’t speak to them so being able to learn more about them was
able to learn more about them was
able to learn more about them was something that was really valuable and
something that was really valuable and
something that was really valuable and important for me because I actually I
important for me because I actually I
important for me because I actually I only see their daily habits and what
only see their daily habits and what
only see their daily habits and what they do when they’re just sitting in a
they do when they’re just sitting in a
they do when they’re just sitting in a comfortable environment and hearing
comfortable environment and hearing
comfortable environment and hearing about their past and everything was
about their past and everything was
about their past and everything was really amazing we also had Elvis
really amazing we also had Elvis
really amazing we also had Elvis Remembrance week which was something
Remembrance week which was something
Remembrance week which was something really fun they got to wear their
really fun they got to wear their
really fun they got to wear their coolest shades and listen to us sing
coolest shades and listen to us sing
coolest shades and listen to us sing along to his music we even had a cutout
along to his music we even had a cutout
along to his music we even had a cutout for him that got dressed for Halloween
for him that got dressed for Halloween
for him that got dressed for Halloween and I think is still wearing a wig but
and I think is still wearing a wig but
and I think is still wearing a wig but it was again that common culture that
it was again that common culture that
it was again that common culture that they got to share together that was
they got to share together that was
they got to share together that was really amazing so we even have like
really amazing so we even have like
really amazing so we even have like sitter size which is an hour of exercise
sitter size which is an hour of exercise
sitter size which is an hour of exercise in a chair which is really awesome I
in a chair which is really awesome I
in a chair which is really awesome I love just sitting and not having to move
love just sitting and not having to move
love just sitting and not having to move that much but getting back to that
that much but getting back to that
that much but getting back to that culture one of the staff members I had
culture one of the staff members I had
culture one of the staff members I had even said to me that we make abnormal
even said to me that we make abnormal
even said to me that we make abnormal people feel normal even if it’s just for
people feel normal even if it’s just for
people feel normal even if it’s just for a couple of hours and that was probably
a couple of hours and that was probably
a couple of hours and that was probably the most stunning thing that I had heard
the most stunning thing that I had heard
the most stunning thing that I had heard since I started volunteering there
since I started volunteering there
since I started volunteering there because I realized how true it was and I
because I realized how true it was and I
because I realized how true it was and I realized that I hadn’t noticed that I
realized that I hadn’t noticed that I
realized that I hadn’t noticed that I hadn’t noticed that they were sick and
hadn’t noticed that they were sick and
hadn’t noticed that they were sick and that they couldn’t remember things that
that they couldn’t remember things that
that they couldn’t remember things that much
much
much in fact I used to be very uncomfortable
in fact I used to be very uncomfortable
in fact I used to be very uncomfortable sharing their I used to just kind of sit
sharing their I used to just kind of sit
sharing their I used to just kind of sit by myself
by myself
by myself and not really volunteer don’t tell my
and not really volunteer don’t tell my
and not really volunteer don’t tell my teacher that but he once I actually
teacher that but he once I actually
teacher that but he once I actually started sharing and I think I felt the
started sharing and I think I felt the
started sharing and I think I felt the point where these so-called like
point where these so-called like
point where these so-called like abnormal people started remembering my
abnormal people started remembering my
abnormal people started remembering my name and remembering who I was and what
name and remembering who I was and what
name and remembering who I was and what I do there and why I was there that was
I do there and why I was there that was
I do there and why I was there that was that moment where I just felt like oh my
that moment where I just felt like oh my
that moment where I just felt like oh my gosh I’m actually having an impact on
gosh I’m actually having an impact on
gosh I’m actually having an impact on people like I’m actually doing something
people like I’m actually doing something
people like I’m actually doing something that they remember which isn’t very
that they remember which isn’t very
that they remember which isn’t very common for them so I think that this
common for them so I think that this
common for them so I think that this quote was probably the most important
quote was probably the most important
quote was probably the most important thing I had learned through my work
thing I had learned through my work
thing I had learned through my work there mainly because when these like
there mainly because when these like
there mainly because when these like group of people returns to society they
group of people returns to society they
group of people returns to society they don’t usually they almost get pitied
don’t usually they almost get pitied
don’t usually they almost get pitied they almost like a lot of people look
they almost like a lot of people look
they almost like a lot of people look down upon Alzheimer’s or dementia
down upon Alzheimer’s or dementia
down upon Alzheimer’s or dementia because they get lost easy or they don’t
because they get lost easy or they don’t
because they get lost easy or they don’t remember their wife’s name all the time
remember their wife’s name all the time
remember their wife’s name all the time and I think that being in this
and I think that being in this
and I think that being in this environment everyday most of them come
environment everyday most of them come
environment everyday most of them come everyday really just shows them that
everyday really just shows them that
everyday really just shows them that there isn’t that stigma and that there
there isn’t that stigma and that there
there isn’t that stigma and that there isn’t that kind of environment that
isn’t that kind of environment that
isn’t that kind of environment that they’re living and they don’t have that
they’re living and they don’t have that
they’re living and they don’t have that diagnosis or that label when they come
diagnosis or that label when they come
diagnosis or that label when they come there so to speak and you don’t really
there so to speak and you don’t really
there so to speak and you don’t really notice when they’re sick or when they
notice when they’re sick or when they
notice when they’re sick or when they forget something so seeing that attitude
forget something so seeing that attitude
forget something so seeing that attitude also really impacted me because I
also really impacted me because I
also really impacted me because I started to notice that again that
started to notice that again that
started to notice that again that kindness that they gave to me and
kindness that they gave to me and
kindness that they gave to me and started remembering me and asking about
started remembering me and asking about
started remembering me and asking about my life was something that I didn’t
my life was something that I didn’t
my life was something that I didn’t really have that much of in my life and
really have that much of in my life and
really have that much of in my life and so that started to change how I viewed
so that started to change how I viewed
so that started to change how I viewed the world around me which was something
the world around me which was something
the world around me which was something so amazing just because I felt that I
so amazing just because I felt that I
so amazing just because I felt that I had an impact on them but they also had
had an impact on them but they also had
had an impact on them but they also had an impact on me it was a two-way
an impact on me it was a two-way
an impact on me it was a two-way relationship so some things that I
relationship so some things that I
relationship so some things that I specifically do there I’m mainly I’m not
specifically do there I’m mainly I’m not
specifically do there I’m mainly I’m not gonna lie just play games with them most
gonna lie just play games with them most
gonna lie just play games with them most of the time I’m leading the games so I
of the time I’m leading the games so I
of the time I’m leading the games so I do have a little bit of a responsibility
do have a little bit of a responsibility
do have a little bit of a responsibility but anytime that we’re like the summer I
but anytime that we’re like the summer I
but anytime that we’re like the summer I worked in a restaurant
worked in a restaurant
worked in a restaurant and I made repair floats for everyone
and I made repair floats for everyone
and I made repair floats for everyone which I regretted because I was covered
which I regretted because I was covered
which I regretted because I was covered in soda and ice cream but they loved it
in soda and ice cream but they loved it
in soda and ice cream but they loved it so that was nice this is the only
so that was nice this is the only
so that was nice this is the only picture you will see of me doing any
picture you will see of me doing any
picture you will see of me doing any kind of dishes I did it once so I felt I
kind of dishes I did it once so I felt I
kind of dishes I did it once so I felt I need to put that in there but running
need to put that in there but running
need to put that in there but running exercise sometimes with them is
exercise sometimes with them is
exercise sometimes with them is something that I can do but I think
something that I can do but I think
something that I can do but I think again the most important aspect that I
again the most important aspect that I
again the most important aspect that I can bring to this group of people and I
can bring to this group of people and I
can bring to this group of people and I didn’t realize it until I had that
didn’t realize it until I had that
didn’t realize it until I had that moment where I realized that I was
moment where I realized that I was
moment where I realized that I was impacting them but the most important
impacting them but the most important
impacting them but the most important thing I brought to be our guest was my
thing I brought to be our guest was my
thing I brought to be our guest was my energy I’m obviously quite younger than
energy I’m obviously quite younger than
energy I’m obviously quite younger than most of them so I have the ability to
most of them so I have the ability to
most of them so I have the ability to jump around and get excited in different
jump around and get excited in different
jump around and get excited in different ways than they do I can be loud and make
ways than they do I can be loud and make
ways than they do I can be loud and make jokes with them and entertain them even
jokes with them and entertain them even
jokes with them and entertain them even if I am just kind of like the community
if I am just kind of like the community
if I am just kind of like the community comedian of the group but you know it
comedian of the group but you know it
comedian of the group but you know it still it entertains them and it kind of
still it entertains them and it kind of
still it entertains them and it kind of shows them that teenagers don’t have
shows them that teenagers don’t have
shows them that teenagers don’t have that stigma that I mentioned they don’t
that stigma that I mentioned they don’t
that stigma that I mentioned they don’t have that belief that they’re just
have that belief that they’re just
have that belief that they’re just cranky old people that forget things
cranky old people that forget things
cranky old people that forget things like it shows them that I actually began
like it shows them that I actually began
like it shows them that I actually began to care about them I became way more
to care about them I became way more
to care about them I became way more comfortable with myself once I kept
comfortable with myself once I kept
comfortable with myself once I kept going there and kept sharing a little
going there and kept sharing a little
going there and kept sharing a little bit more and now like I tell them about
bit more and now like I tell them about
bit more and now like I tell them about my school day I tell them about my work
my school day I tell them about my work
my school day I tell them about my work I tell them about this event I tell them
I tell them about this event I tell them
I tell them about this event I tell them everything they’re a great group to
everything they’re a great group to
everything they’re a great group to share things with and so not only did
share things with and so not only did
share things with and so not only did that impact had like come on me but even
that impact had like come on me but even
that impact had like come on me but even another volunteer had told me that
another volunteer had told me that
another volunteer had told me that coming to this program helps her as much
coming to this program helps her as much
coming to this program helps her as much as it helps the guess because this is
as it helps the guess because this is
as it helps the guess because this is just another example of the feel good do
just another example of the feel good do
just another example of the feel good do good effect where once you are doing
good effect where once you are doing
good effect where once you are doing something good for other people you
something good for other people you
something good for other people you start to feel better about yourself so
start to feel better about yourself so
start to feel better about yourself so and it works in Reverse as well where
and it works in Reverse as well where
and it works in Reverse as well where you’re feeling good about yourself
you’re feeling good about yourself
you’re feeling good about yourself you’re going to be more inclined to do
you’re going to be more inclined to do
you’re going to be more inclined to do something and it’s just this endless
something and it’s just this endless
something and it’s just this endless cycle and all of this shows in pretty
cycle and all of this shows in pretty
cycle and all of this shows in pretty much anybody who comes to this program
much anybody who comes to this program
much anybody who comes to this program anybody who just volunteers for maybe a
anybody who just volunteers for maybe a
anybody who just volunteers for maybe a couple weeks it shows that you really
couple weeks it shows that you really
couple weeks it shows that you really see the impact that it has on that
see the impact that it has on that
see the impact that it has on that community of people and on the people
community of people and on the people
community of people and on the people who are volunteering themselves or even
who are volunteering themselves or even
who are volunteering themselves or even the one
the one
the one that work there so this just shows that
that work there so this just shows that
that work there so this just shows that people begin to care about these guests
people begin to care about these guests
people begin to care about these guests and they really just care about coming
and they really just care about coming
and they really just care about coming there and donating even an hour of their
there and donating even an hour of their
there and donating even an hour of their time because it changed it definitely
time because it changed it definitely
time because it changed it definitely changed my attitude about how I viewed
changed my attitude about how I viewed
changed my attitude about how I viewed the world and how I viewed that little
the world and how I viewed that little
the world and how I viewed that little things don’t really matter and it
things don’t really matter and it
things don’t really matter and it basically the feel good do good effect
basically the feel good do good effect
basically the feel good do good effect is something that I would encourage
is something that I would encourage
is something that I would encourage everybody to take part in so it’s not
everybody to take part in so it’s not
everybody to take part in so it’s not even on a larger scale of volunteering
even on a larger scale of volunteering
even on a larger scale of volunteering it’s per se that’s something that again
it’s per se that’s something that again
it’s per se that’s something that again does take a little bit time a bit of
does take a little bit time a bit of
does take a little bit time a bit of time to get comfortable with but holding
time to get comfortable with but holding
time to get comfortable with but holding doors open for people and having good
doors open for people and having good
doors open for people and having good conversations is also extremely valuable
conversations is also extremely valuable
conversations is also extremely valuable to our community especially and once you
to our community especially and once you
to our community especially and once you begin to feel more adventurous and more
begin to feel more adventurous and more
begin to feel more adventurous and more comfortable with yourself you really
comfortable with yourself you really
comfortable with yourself you really have to go out there and like make an
have to go out there and like make an
have to go out there and like make an impact because that’s what’s going to
impact because that’s what’s going to
impact because that’s what’s going to last and that’s that
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