Elderly People: A beautiful inspiring source of joy, laugh, wisdom and serenity

As I am on a trip to Paris, I feel like sharing some thoughts about how grateful I am to be able to spend so many quality moments with my grand-mother - called "Super Mamy", 88 years old - and her younger sister - called "Tantine", 81 years old.

The more I spend time with them, the more I realize how young and alive their souls are. They have been through so many things in their lives, so many good and bad times. But whatever story they choose to share with us, it is always with the same energy, passion and youth as if it happened yesterday. Their eyes are wide open, everyone can feel their energy invading the whole space and the whole room is filled with sudden passion and young wildness. Age definitely doesn't impact the eternal soul. They are the living proof of it.

Society today makes us think that growing old is bad, that we have to get rid of those lines around our eyes, forehead or mouth, that grey hair looks terrible, that the body of an old person is terrible to see and that youth is the only possible beauty. This actually makes me laugh a lot.

I truly prefer a glowing face, with many expressions, showing off wrinkles that prove what an intense life they have been living, instead of a fixed, fake, expressionless Botox-injected face. We are not robots. We are not our physical appearance. We are souls in a human body, and this body is there to make us thrive on Earth. Hiding the beauty of our experience in life is like denying all the emotions and all the important things we have been through.

Embrace life as it goes. Whether you are 20, 30, 40 or 70. Each age has its own beauty. Growing old, gaining experience in life, is just part of the beautiful journey. We learn things and become better persons BECAUSE WE GROW OLD.

To me, elderly people are the living proof that life is a beautiful journey. It is like a music you are listening to. Who cares about the final note? It is all about dancing, each note at a time.

Do they get emotional about the superficial goods they have been lucky to have? About cars, houses or diamonds? Not at all. They actually barely talk about it. What truly deeply impacts them is always an experience, a moment shared with someone, a magical moment at some point in their lives. People, LIFE IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE AND HOW YOU CAN SHOW IT OFF. What you will remember are the people around you, the love you gave, the love you received, the tears you shed, the way you felt. That is what will be stuck in you and what will actually make the person you are.

Here is what I have learned from the beautiful older people I have been lucky to spend time with in my life:

• -My French-British grandfather: Nothing is impossible
• -My French grandmother: Be open and adapt to whatever happens to you, don't take life too seriously and be ready to laugh any time
• -Her sister Tantine: Enjoy life to its fullest, make things happen
• -My Spanish grandfather: It is all about love. Be true to yourself and give from the heart. Hug the people you love.
• -My Spanish grandmother: Work hard, rest hard, and give love as much as you can

Those people have definitely inspired me in many ways, and to me, society should value them much more. They know how life works. They know how to make a good one, they know that love is all that matters.

So yes, make your life count, be grateful for waking up every single day as it is a new occasion for you to learn and grow. Life on Earth is such a beautiful journey. I am loving my ups, loving my downs, and loving the experiences I am having.

If you are lucky enough to have some older people in your life, spend time with them, help them feel better, and give them joy and happiness. They always smile back - and that is the best present life could give me at that moment.

Have a beautiful growing old life everyone.

Stephanie