By Elexise Chung, 20, Junior at Pacific Union College. Major: Nursing
Blood flows through the heart. Through a beat of motion, the heart is able to sustain life, the same beat that flows through each one of us. Life is present in all and many dance to their own rhythm.
On our last day in Boaco our group set out to a senior center for a simple task of handing out cookies and chatting with the elderly. As we arrived the building was open and very beautiful. Each person sat up against the aquamarine wall in their own little sofa chairs just staring off into space. Each face looked dull. The people looked as though their time of fun and joy had dissipated and awaited for their time.
Our group was very shy at first when we entered. Each of us grabbed some cookies and split off into groups visiting each individual. As we started talking to them their faces lit up, like polishing an old tea pot, they started to glow as they told their stories and were so happy to have visitors to keep them company, because many of them have been forgotten.
This was sad to hear. My heart ached for everyone should receive love and attention. It is a necessity. When I looked around I glanced and saw a piano and thought it would be great for us to play some music for the elderly. So our talented members of the group Daniel and Crystal played some tunes that the elderly once grew up with and Sang to them. We filled the room with dancing notes and it was beautiful to see how such a simple thing can brighten up one’s life.
Soon things started to quiet down. The caretaker turned on the CD player to some old music. All of a sudden a lady gets up and starts to dance. She had so much joy in her face that we too joined her and danced along with her. Happiness is contagious. As we danced another lady had got up to dance with our member Daniel (who is 6’3″) and she (4’11″) it was such a sight to see. The expression of her whole body dancing to the rhythm like she was young again and filled with joy!
After, an elderly man got out of his seat and grabbed me to dance with him! I myself a horribly dancer… Was swooped off and grabbed to dance. At first I was stepping on his feet because I was nervous. But I took a deep breath and realized that the guy I was dancing with was so happy he didn’t even notice! I relaxed and let my mind go and just danced. His smile was so big, I myself couldn’t help but to feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and a huge smile on my own face. I felt my heart just feel as though everything had fallen into place and it wasn’t just dancing with my mind but dancing with my heart and happiness. The joy of giving pleasure to others was worth it all. That is a lesson I learned that day you can’t just think with your mind, you have to let your heart reach out to others and let everything else come naturally. Dance with the heart. Those people opened up their lives to us and I will be forever grateful on how we could be a blessing for them. It may have just been for that day, but the smiles and the happiness we brought to them will probably be some of the most memorable last moments of their lifetime.
This experience has been life changing and the memories will remain forever in my heart.
