Today, we had what we call a senior dinner here on campus. We invite any and all who are willing to say that they are seniors and give them a meal, provide some entertainment, and update them on the home and what is happening here. The girls and staff prepare the meal, get things ready, and serve and wait tables. Everyone seems to enjoy it and have a good time.
There is a lot of planning that goes into an event that only lasts about two hours. Many multiples of that time are spent by several staffers as they prepare the meal, clean the facility, plan the program, contact the entertainment, set up tables, and take care of a host of other details. People who have never planned such a thing haven’t a clue.
I have been guilty many times of attending an event such as this one and flippantly criticizing some aspect of the event that I didn’t like or that didn’t go as I thought it should. I failed, too, to think of the hours of planning that went into it and that someone was just as disappointed as I in what happened (or didn’t happen).
Perhaps if we’d take a little more time to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes instead of being so concerned about ourselves, we’d understand much better what it’s like for the other person. Perhaps if we’d be just a little less self-centered and a little more others-centered, we’d not be so quick to criticize or chastise.
We had fun and it was a productive time. Did it all go as planned? No, but what ever does? Did people enjoy it? They said they did, and they had smiles as they left. I think that tells about all there is to say.
1 comment:
Put yourself in someone else's shoes??? Have you gone mad?? Whatsa matter with you! That would require, oh, I dunno, maybe a different perspective on things. You need a psychiatrist!
Post a Comment