Whilst we all have our busy lives to attend, at school, college or at work, there are a few souls forgotten by society or maybe shunned, I am not too sure. As a youngster myself, I think of the best moments i have with friends, and shudder at the thought of being left alone. My visit to the St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi made me realise this more.
It was on a vacation to the capital bustling city of India, New Delhi, where I happened to have a chance to visit and volunteer at an old age home. The first thought before I even went into the premises was that of sick and lonely aged men and women, in their last years of lives living under the care of compassionate people, nuns and volunteers. But I was wrong.
This was my first visit to St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi and boy did it change my perception of life. It was a field project though, which was assigned to me by my institute and my task was to interact, understand and pen down the experiences I encounter with senior citizens that don’t live with their families anymore.
As i walked into St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi, I was greeted with smiles and a couple of welcoming nods. This was a place not like the other old age homes I have been to or visited. There were many happy smiling faces around, living their lives in bliss and total harmony. There was a sense of calm and peace on each face i interacted with or saw. Much unlike the many faces I see every day, wherever I go.
It seemed that life didn’t stop for these lovely souls living at St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi. For them, it was another joyful phase of life; one that they accepted with total harmony and their only aim was to co-exist lovingly amongst one another.
Upon interacting with my friends and me, i was surprised that they knew what ‘selfies’ were all about, because they jolly well posed for many. Story telling was part and parcel, where they shared with us their journey of life, of the past that once was and must I say, I saw a light glow on their face and in their eyes when they expressed their words and emotions.
Maybe physically they have aged, but the heart is still young for the many living at St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi. Testimony to the same being the many games they played and taught us, and the way they shared the home made food we brought for them- it reminded me of sitting in school with my friends and sharing lunch tiffins- the same experience I found with them too.
At St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi, i happened to meet a lady, aged 106! And was she the jolliest of them all, proving age was just a number. I sat back while she sang and took pictures with us, and exchanged numbers with us too- she was savvy with modern technology- I was now no more amazed. I wonder what her story in the past was like, because she was more concentrated on having fun with us than talking about anything else.
Whatever be it, she was the happiest soul around at St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi. And along with her, i met another grand aunty with a penchant for gardening. Her green thumb did wonders for the premises around, and even at this age considers her hobby as caring for her children. Apart from gardening, the grand aunty had a sense of fashion- her collection of chic sarees said it all, and she also had a pretty room- she loves home decor too.
What i learnt from my visit at the St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi, is that life does go on, no matter what. Living till the last breath with plenty of positivity and utmost glee should be our goal- our generation somewhere has lost that in a world that runs too fast. I was inspired and am going to come back to visit the lovely souls at St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi soon. If you really want to know the true meaning of life; St. Mary’s Old Age Home, New Delhi is the place that can teach you a lot- drop by and experience the zest that doesn’t come from the material world outside.
