Why Writing Letters and Why to the Elderly?

Family and relationships are crucial for a community to thrive.  It is important that we learn about our heritage so we can better define our futures.  Many have grandparents or other older relatives that are still alive but that they do not know well.  In addition, In many neighborhoods  we don’t know our neighbors.  So many have hectic, busy lifestyles and it is increasingly difficult to find the time to connect in meaningful ways.    This past year in my neighborhood there was a tragic suicide of an elderly man.  I didn’t know him.  His next door neighbors knew him a little.  He was a Vietnam Veteran. He had debilitating, terminal health concerns, severe pain and severe loneliness.  Police and neighbors noted the night before he shot himself he came out to say goodbye to the neighbors.  They didn’t realize it as such at the time.  While one is not accountable for what might happen this horrific occurrence caused me to reflect deeply.  What could I have done?  Could I have been a friend?  Could I have taken a walk with my small children and dropped off a plate of cookies?  Could any of the small and seemingly insignificant offerings that I thought I might be able to offer another human soul do any of these do any good at all?  A co-worker checks in on her neighbor who is 85 and although she has a daughter, has health concerns and disappointment with a body that limits her.  I had never met her but had learned much about her from my co-worker.  I decided to get her address and write a birthday letter to this stranger.  I used the details I had gleaned from my co-worker sharing.  I shared about myself, my dreams and passions and acknowledged what I knew about the details of her life.  I mailed it and a small miracle occurred.  My co-worker shared how moved this elderly woman, Dot was.  When I mentioned in the letter that I knew her dear, Slim, who had passed was surely picking roses for her, waiting for her reunion  my gesture moved her to tears.  Even with her limitations she wrote me back a beautiful thank you letter.  The impact was so much larger than I expected.  My well was filled.  After this I began to think larger.  Yes, it is possible that small and simple things can bring great miracles to pass.  The problem I choose to define for my CAP is so many in our older generations, who possess so much wisdom and life experience are becoming increasingly disconnected from the younger generations.  A tragic isolation has gradually occurred and our communities have an inter-generational gap.  We learn from our history.  We must embrace our roots to understand our past so that we might bring prosperity to our future. With our hectic lifestyles we must be creative to find effective methods of bridging this gap.  People have precious worth to contribute to each other. The audience I would like to target is the elderly, senior citizens who may be isolated, emotionally depleted individuals.  We will reach out to relatives and non-relatives. This will include if possible those related to our PWG women and participants and those unrelated to help draw those in to a “family” network that do not have one. The audience that will be the vehicle to reach these individuals will be PWG women and those who join us-who will write letters to elderly individuals.  PWG women can invite their families to participate if they are old enough to write a full letter and participate in the same capacity. ·