During this pandemic with the need to shelter in place, there is only one thing I have missed. Many people have missed eating in restaurants and shopping, but the only thing I have deeply missed is hugs, especially from my mom. It has been over 140 days since I have hugged my 96-year-old mom. Luckily, my mom lives in a downstairs apartment, so I can see her through her window. While I stand outside her window we talk on the phone, it reminds me how you communicate with people in jail. It is not optimal, but it does bring a smile on her face and mine.
So, when one of my loyal readers advised how her art teacher communicated love to her mom in a nursing home, I knew I needed to honor her with a “Caring Heart Award.” Caring Heart Awards are given to everyday people that do acts of kindness. Audrey Bottrell Parks, like me has not been able to give her mom a hug since early March.
Audrey had a choice to be sad about not being able to hug her mom or to do something to make the situation better. She thought about having a concert in the yard, but the residents were not allowed to open their windows. Taking action was her antidote for her sadness.
Audrey decided to paint cheerful pictures on the residents’ windows, to cheer them and to let them know there are people that care. She practiced at home on her sliding glass door to make sure the painting looked good from the outside and inside. She found if she painted thin enough the picture would seem to glow. Audrey and two of her friends painted windows the first day. The teary-eyed staff came to see the windows. The staff explained how difficult it has been for the residents and the staff. She came back numerous days until there were about 100 painted windows for both the residents and the staff, She put a little heart on every window to let them know that they are loved, and they are not forgotten.
“It’s the least I could do to give them something. We all thought it was hard to be stuck at home, but we had our loved ones around us, we could have human contact, we could have hugs, we could go outside in our yard. They didn’t have that,” says Audrey.
Audrey has a Caring Heart. Her friend’s testimonial says in all. “Audrey is caring, comforting, and confirming in how she lives every aspect of her life. When she sent me the pictures of the windows she had painted at her mother’s nursing home, I thought that this was such a visible demonstration of who Audrey is, deeply caring about others, and willing to give of herself, both time and talent, to bring a smile to other peoples’ lives. I knew she would never give herself credit for what she did, so that is why I contacted the TV station to have them tell her story. Her whole motive was not only to cheer up her Mom and the other patients and staff, but to spread good cheer so that others will do the same for others during this time of trial in all of our lives.”
Audrey’s hope is her paintings will inspire others to get creative to cheer up their family members isolated in nursing homes or others having difficulty. She feels what she did is a small thing but if everyone did a small act of kindness what a better world we would have. If you are sad, one antidote, is to act, to do something to make someone else’s life a little happier. Giving others what you need in your own life, you will be doubly blessed. You will bless others, as well as yourself.
Do you know someone that deserves a Caring Heart award?
Staying in Touch: Barbara Hirsh can be reached at info@LiveKinder.com I love hearing your kindness stories. Please sign-up for almost weekly kindness message at www.LiveKinder.com or follow LiveKinder on Facebook!
