The Importance of Bessie’s Hope –Why I am a Board Member

Kelie Kyser, MSOL – Bessie’s Hope Board Member

February 13, 2012

I believe an individual who walks the earth with no regard for his fellow brother is an empty soul.  We are all responsible for each other’s wellbeing to some extent.  The energy you project into the universe will undoubtedly return to you at some juncture in your life.  That being said, what better way to ensure your own blessings than enriching the lives of others?  Volunteering is one of the most rewarding feelings I have experienced to date.  It is a much needed way for me to focus on the world around me and less on myself. Being a Bessie’s Hope Board Member is a great honor and gift.

The mission of Bessie’s Hope is synonymous to many of my personal convictions.  I too believe youth and elders are largely disregarded; yet they are undoubtedly the most important facets of our society.  We all share two commonalities in this journey of life and that is that we have all been young and barring unfortunate circumstances we will all grow old.  The work of Bessie’s Hope is needed!  We have cleverly devised a way to unite two underserved demographics and remind them of their significance to others.   

I came to the Bessie’s Hope in need of a positive way to cope with the grief of losing my grandmother.  I am all too familiar with the plight faced by elders when their health declines and their lives begin to transform as a result.  

A common misconception of the elderly is that they have “old” minds.  People think that when a person grows old they lose touch with the world around them.  I know however, this fallacy couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Growing old provides insight and clarity of the world that surrounds you. This trajectory makes the prospect of growing old alone a depressing one since now is the time you may feel inclined to share the details of all the life lessons you’ve successfully passed.