A smile is all it takes

It just came as an idea. Christmas is such a wonderful season, a time of sharing, laughter, happiness. A time when we go out to buy presents for our loved ones. I thought somewhere out there, there are people who do not get to experience Christmas as we do. Why am I buying presents for friends who could well afford to get them for themselves, what about those who did not receive anything. And I remembered how much fun Mummy had bringing cheer to the old folks when she went down to Moral Welfare Home one Christmas season together with the church peeps. So I had this amazing wild idea whereby I would visit an old folks home this Christmas and spend some time keeping the folks there company.

Yeah, my brilliant plan. I would set a date, get permission, and then tell all my friends about it and see whoever wants to come along with me. Only thing was, one of the first few friends I told blew off the idea, saying that he did not think it was a good idea as the old folks would probably expect me to keep coming back and it was a commitment kinda thing, it wouldn’t be nice for me to just go once; they would be cheered up and all only to never see me again. And because of what he said, my other friend backed off the idea as well.

My thinking was, Christmas is a once a year season, I’m sure they would know that I was there for Christmas and should not be expecting me on a regular basis.

Okay, things were looking good. Out of every 3 peeps I told, 1 would be interested in joining me. Until the next 2 bummers. My colleague said the same thing as my friend, that from a social worker’s point of view, a one-off visit would not be good. The other bummer, when I finally got permission from St. Joseph’s Home to visit suddenly it looked as though I would be going all on my own. Which was the original plan, yes, but even then I was a bit thrown off balance.

Nevertheless, I would not back off. I had already told the home I was going, and I was going. Nor was having a bad cold gonna stop me.

And so the day came. Me, my colleague and my mom. I entered the home with my mom who immediately was recognised by the sisters and started catching up with them. She was so in place and I was so out of place. There was some Christmas celebrations going on, and the folks were gathered in the hallway wearing santa hats and being led on by the workers to having a jolly good time. Boy was I intimidated and super shy. This was not me, I thought. What was I gonna do? Go around and start dancing like the workers? In the end, we sat down amongst the folks and joined in the fun. Slowly I loosened up.

Awards were given out to the folks, awards such as best in arts and crafts, most progressive in therapy and the always smiling award. The workers led the folks with some dance moves to the tune of a couple of 80s songs. At first I hesitated, then I joined in the action and boy did I have fun.

It’s amazing what a smile can do when you’re worlds apart. A little wave and a nod of the head would be reciprocated. It’s amazing how much happiness and contentment you can learn from people who have so much lesser than yourself but who have so much more to share and give. How I wish the world would be much simpler, like this. How I wish the people we once knew, or were close with, or were acquainted with, would not be invisible to each other right now. All it takes is a smile or wave, but sometimes you can’t even catch the other’s person’s gaze. You can be surrounded by people and yet be so lonely.

We went around giving Van Houten chocolates to those who could eat them, we pulled crackers with them and the fun to them was all in the pulling, and we took instant pictures of them which really fascinated them.
I was the scared, shy person looking in, wanting to spread some cheer to people whom I thought did not know much of it. But instead, they touched my heart, and they reminded me that a smile was all it took to break all bounds, and that love never selfish.