Elder Tales podcast

This conversation with Fay and Frank is framed with contentment and affection.

Contentment to live in the moment, to treat the past as gone, and to hold plans for the future lightly. And deep affection for each other, tested and refined through many life challenges and still delightfully fresh and vibrant.

Life is never static - it moves with currents and waves that carry us, at times, in directions and to places we did not, and often would not, choose. The rhythms of nature around us, its ebbs and flows, have much to teach about how we view ourselves in the narrative arc of our own stories.

'Life Lessons from Fish' from the award-winning book 'This Old Stick' describes Trevor's discovery of this lesson from a flapping marine teacher.

Many elderly people tend to recount their stories with a paucity of detail. This is less about memory fading and more about the processes of resilience and survival driving them to distance themselves from the distressing detail of lives lived through wars, global crises, and some societal norms and expectations we would now consider outrageous.

Patty's spiritual faith is existentially central to her life, starting as a young girl, and this has given her the capacity to live a flourishing life despite many significant traumas.

Her story-telling is engaging and inspiring.

Here's another story from 'This Old Stick,' captured by the author's voice and contributions from morning birdsong to add layers of richness and authenticity to the story of a woman whose independence and affinity with nature is woven tightly into the fabric of her life. Please enjoy 'Evelyn's Rescue.'

Over 80 years of being a farmer, Bob looks back on his life with Isobel saying "I enjoyed every bit of it and would do it again." This couple have worked hard through challenges and rewards, investing deeply, not just in their farms and communities, but in each other, and the life of love and value they have built together.

The dying clasp of Jack's intense handshake evokes a moving moment of connection between doctor and patient, despite the heavy air of tension in the room. Listen to the author read this story of 'Complaint' from his collection of award-winning short stories, 'This Old Stick.'

June's life story is defined by generosity, being family-focused, and seeking the good in people. Whilst her early years of life were tough and lacked the template to build these values into her parenting and relationships, she made a determined choice to establish new rituals and attitudes which placed love at the center of her life. Her wise words are a mantra: "Love conquers everything; give it and it comes back 100 times."

Another short story read by the author, from 'This Old Stick.' Allow yourself to be moved by the confused playfulness of Audrey as you join in her emotional journey.

This invigorating conversation with an elderly, blind Danish woman and her husband highlights her values of generosity and gratitude; values exhibited with evidence of inquiring minds and adventurous spirits, and a desire to pass these on to successive generations.

"By putting ourselves into the story of people who on the surface appear different from us, we can recognise our common humanity with them. And that can trigger empathy in a really natural way." So says Jamil Zaki, psychologist and author of 'The War For Kindness; Building Empathy In A Fractured World.'

If we allow the power of stories to deepen our empathetic connection with others, global crisis can become global community.

This is one of a collection of fictional short stories from my book 'This Old Stick.' The purpose of the stories is more than just an enjoyable read about delightful and challenging characters. I want readers to find empathy with older people they may not feel they have much in common with, and be reminded of the gifts and precious treasure the elderly bring to our communities. In doing so, 'This Old Stick,' coupled with empathy, can be a tool to help heal the disconnection that exists in society between those considered healthy and functional, and those who are older and considered less so.