An elderly man supports himself against his walker as he crosses the street. I smile a huge smile, and he responds with one of those tough smiles. The kind that says “I’m happy to be alive, but it sure hasn’t been easy." Sometimes I have a “moment” with elderly people. They are so precious, so beautiful, but so undervalued.

Think about how long they’ve been alive and what crazy events they’ve been alive for. Sometimes we feel like we’ve had a tough year. They’ve lived through 80 of them. People that are 80 years old have lived through the World War II, the hippie movement, civil rights, and so much more.

At the elderly home where I worked, a lady shared with me how she used to dance in poodle skirts. What a time to be alive! They’ve even see the evolution of clothing firsthand.

Furthermore, the ladies told me how everyone wanted to marry a military ma. It's so different today.

One of the most inspiring elderly people I have ever met (besides my grandma) was a lady that sewed her own clothes, ate two servings of ice-cream, loved the sky, and read like a maniac. She was filled with a contagious energy and overflowing joy. Her dearly loved husband had died 15 years before, and she was sad when she talked of him. But she was able to not let bitterness build up over the years. This elderly lady had learned to use her word to encourage and build up. She's learned to use her words for good. I want to do the same.

Think about how much you’ve learned in the last year. Now multiply that by 70. Elderly people have learned so much. Their experience and wisdom are undeniable. Ask them questions; you'll undercover treasures.