Members of the Inspire Kindness team visited Maybelle Carter Senior Living Center in our home city of Nashville this past December. We went intending to spread some holiday cheer, sitting and talking with the residents, and giving each one of them one of our Kindness Roses. While passing out the roses meant a lot to the residents, it also left a lasting impact on myself and the rest of my team.
The Maybelle Carter facility was so wonderful; each person who lives there can customize their room exactly how they want to. It was such a joy to walk up to each door, see the resident’s name on a plaque outside, and offer them a rose. Some of the residents do not get many guests, so they were excited to have the company.
.png "Kindness Rose")
While handing out the roses, most of the residents would invite us into their unit to talk for a few minutes. They all loved hearing about what Inspire Kindness is and what we stand for. We also enjoyed hearing about their lives, their past jobs, their kids and grandchildren, their hobbies, and anything else they wanted to share.
One of the residents said that the rose was such a perfect gift for her. Right before moving into the facility, she had planted a rose bush in her yard. She said the Kindness Rose would be a great reminder of home.
Another resident, Ms. Eleanor, shared her passion for painting. She painted a watercolor of the Kindness Rose after our team left. Carrie, an Inspire Kindness team member, gave her the rose, so it was especially meaningful to her to see the impact she left on Ms. Eleanor. It was such a beautiful example of how much better it is to give than to receive.
.png "The Kindness Rose Watercolor Painting")
Seeing the surprise and happiness as we handed each resident a rose was so meaningful to every member of our team. Spreading cheer at Maybelle Carter was our intention, but we added joy to our hearts as well. The power of kindness ...