Gratitude

by Victoria Brewster, MSW

We all become busy with both our personal and professional lives, but this is one element that should not be forgotten-gratitude.

I co-facilitate a group for Holocaust Survivors on a weekly basis. This group has taught me so much and I will be forever grateful to all the members of the group for teaching and instilling in me a very important life lesson-gratitude.

I have been with this group for 12 1/2 years; 6 months as a volunteer and 12 years as staff.

The group members have taught me: the importance of socialization, everyday be grateful and write in a journal 3-5 things I am grateful for, how lucky I am to live in Canada as others are not so lucky living in other parts of the world, enjoy and realize the importance of family, look at aging as an adventure, and be willing and open to adapting as needed both mentally and physically to the aging process.

These are all very important life lessons that have a lot of meaning in them. The members have taught me to try new things and focus on life learning.

As helping professionals, we would all do well to listen to those that have lived through one of the worst times in history (WW II) and to heed their advice on the aging process.

* November 1, 2012