Opening Doors in Retirement Community

  

The Open Door, Peter Ilsted (c.1910)

We hold doors open for each other—
a kindness that promotes peace among
neighbors.  Elevator doors could close too fast
for walkers and rollators and cleaning carts.
Doors to porches are too heavy for one,
so others step up to lighten the load.
 
“Do you want company?” opens doors
to friendship, and “Is this seat taken?”
opens the conversation of mealtime,
a favorite activity.  We linger in the dining
room to finish a line of thought with the
same or changing constellations of people.
 
Listening is a door opening that always opens other doors,
as awareness is key to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Share, invite in, leave space for time alone?
“Do you want help?” is a kind pause before rushing in. 
Believing in the autonomy of each is a kindness
often neglected in the larger world.
 
Or is all this door opening ordinary? I didn’t
have a close-knit family, and sibling rivalry
took center stage.  As a teacher, I tried to invite
it into my classrooms with varying success. But here
in retirement community we open doors with
grace that is constant, relaxing, and welcome.

For Sherry's prompt "Small Kindnesses" at What's Going On? 

My blog poems are rough drafts.

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© 2026 Susan L. Chast