This week I went to my cohort’s HAP project event at the West Center in Downtown. Their project was a Fashion Show theme to give older adult there a chance for a makeover by providing donated cloths, jewelry, a face mask, self-massage, manicure, and coloring destress time. I helped set up the clothes section and the amount of clothes available was amazing to see. But the most beautiful thing I saw was the lightened-up face of many people looking for their clothes. I then migrated to the coloring station to talk to someone that was alone. I began to talk to them by asking “How are you doing today?” I never imagined the impact that question can have on someone because they just began to open up to me with a surprising comfort level. Our conversation made me realize that everyone wants to be heard and to be comprehended. They began to tell me that they were so outgoing and vibrant before, but they went through a traumatic event three years ago and is now starting to talk to people and be comfortable talking to people like we were talking. Again, I realized the events that people go through happen so quickly and can create a 180-degree change in your life. No one can know the circumstances one can go through, so we must all be kind and empathetic to everyone! Later I migrated to the nail station and I met so many people! They all left a mark on my heart with their endurance, their resilience, and beautiful hearts!! I was able to start conversation with a lot of people and I got to learn that someone would come all the way from Chula Vista through transit to be able to spend the whole day their and volunteer because her doctor told her not to be stationary or else she would be sick. And someone was so happy to receive clothes because their clothes were recently stolen so they were limited in clothes. And another person felt so honored to be having someone do their nails. And I met so many more people by doing their nails (which I love to do I would love to paint my mom’s nails). It was such a rewarding day to meet everyone and have a conversation with them because it inspires me to talk to someone and spark a conversation with many more people to gain so much more knowledge and understanding.
|
MARICELA CANOWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
Categories |