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Eden At Home EE Testimonials
Eden At Home EE Testimonials | EE Testimonials |
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“Embracing Elderhood has completely changed the way I think about elderhood. It helped me to understand that elders don't just live in the past. They still have the desire to learn, great senses of humor, and important lives to live.” --Meredith, 12th Grader and Recording Partner “What’s unique about this program is how legacy creation is explored through the filter of the Eden Alternative’s ten principles. The two work together as though they were made for each other. It is a marriage made in heaven.” --Margaret Mooney, Volunteer Recording Partner “The Embracing Elderhood curriculum packs in staying power for volunteers by building layers of meaning into the legacy creation process. The response from our volunteers has been heartwarming, and we have another group of hopeful volunteers ready to commit." --Kim Colley Local Embracing Elderhood Trainer/ Coordinator “Embracing Elderhood has meant a lot to me. It makes me feel good when young people take up time with a senior like myself. Kyle’s like the grandson I never had. When young people stop and listen to you, you can teach them a lot. You never know how you can affect someone else’s life.” --Beatrice Jackson Elder Storyteller "Being involved in the pilot project of Embracing Elderhood has been a lovely gift to my son, Ben and me. This project gave us the honor of visiting with and listening to our elders’ stories for the greater part of a year. Through our visits, we got more than snapshots of a life; we were able to help our storyteller review the entire album of their life. We were able to record their stories and will be able to leave their legacy with them when the project is complete. What we won’t leave, is our relationship with the elder we have grown to love and admire. We all need to have a legacy to share with others. We all want to know that we have made a difference in our world. We all want to share our stories, have a need to share them. Ben and I hope that one day, this program will have grown to the point where all elders, including ourselves, will have the opportunity to share their experiences and know that their histories will not be lost." –Margaret Thacker Local Embracing Elderhood Trainer/Coordinator "To begin with, I met these two beautiful people who were interested in my life and my stories. I’ve enjoyed their visits and chatting with them. We’ve had a picnic outdoors and planted some flowers and had some lovely times talking. I’ve been able to bring back some old memories that I haven’t thought about in a long time. It’s wonderful that my story will be left for my family. I’m the oldest one left and my children will have a record of my experiences to share with their children. My history won’t be lost…." –Marjorie Carter Elder Storyteller "I have been surprised at how much our visits mean to me. After the first couple visits I wasn't sure how I would fill up a year of interviews. Now, it is hard to envision this interview process ending. It is crazy to me that Betty has a whole life of stories and experiences that have probably been very rarely listened to by someone else. They're not just stories, either, not in the sense of some sort of entertainment... each week she gives me bits of hard learned wisdom collected over 90 years. What has been particularly poignant has been experiencing my life with her. My engagement this fall, my marriage in January, and buying and settling into our first house--these are all things that are as vivid for her now as when she experienced them 70 years ago. It has been really precious to relive her past experiences with each of these things as I'm living my present ones. It gives me focus and perspective to be with someone towards the end of her life, reflect back on 90 years of living, 3 children and 56 years of marriage, and share what are the important things that have stuck with her all this time and what she has learned about living, and about love." –- Jackie Jamison Volunteer Recording Partner "The Embracing Elderhood program has taught me a lot about life. Mr.Dowdy has given me so much insight, and I feel like I am a better man and more prepared for life. I wish we could visit more often!" --Hunter, 11th Grader & Recording Partner |