The Power of Listening

Palm Desert High School member Anya A. details a conversation she had during a GlamourGals experience that revealed to her the beauty of listening to everyone’s story.

During a GG Senior Home Visit to The Carlotta, I met Theresa, a woman with a soft heart and a life full of unexpected turns. She mentioned it had been months since anyone had come to visit her. Though she said it with a smile, I could feel the loneliness in her words. Still, I sensed a resilience in her. She proudly showed me an old photograph of herself with John F. Kennedy. That quiet morning turned into a moment in history. As we talked, she shared memories of the restaurant she once ran with her late husband. It was more than a business, it was their world, filled with laughter, long hours, and dancing. 

She lit up, recalling how they used to dance in the kitchen or late at night in the empty dining room. Then her voice trembled. A surgery gone wrong had left her unable to walk. Losing the ability to dance had been one of the hardest things she'd faced. She didn't speak with anger, but acceptance. Theresa opened my eyes to how easily the world forgets. It changed the way I see others, especially older individuals who are often overlooked. It also made me reflect on the kind of person I want to be: someone that is empathetic and makes people feel seen. Theresa reminded me that behind every person is a story marked by love and loss. Sometimes, just listening is everything.