INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS
We’re fortunate to have older people around us, whether they’re family, friends, or just general acquaintances. Older people are fonts of wisdom, experience, and storytelling. They can inspire us to continue striving — or warn us of dangers we’re unaware of. We should look to them for guidance whenever and wherever possible. Unfortunately, far too often we tend to forget — or, worse, downright ignore — the older people in our lives. That’s one of many reason why the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 is such a terrific holiday.
WHY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS IS IMPORTANT
Older people deserve our respect and attention
In addition to the wonderful things older people bring to our lives, a day set aside to honor them reminds us to take the time to be kind and humble in the presence of a long life well-lived.
We want to teach young people
The holiday is a way to educate younger people on many of the issues faced by the elderly, such as abuse and senescence — the deterioration of mental and physical processes.
We don't know everything
If we're lucky, age confers upon us a measure of self-awareness and wisdom. Focusing on the challenges faced by the elderly reminds us that there is still much to learn about ourselves and the world.
