Why I Keep Coming Back
Discover how Untether Life’s senior outreach builds meaningful connections, eases loneliness, and brings joy through the simple act of showing up.
LOCAL OUTREACHMINISTRY REFLECTIONSVOLUNTEERS
Nicole Foster
10/27/20262 min read
"You Came Back": Why Senior Outreach Means So Much to Me
One of my favorite things to hear when I walk into a senior outreach event with Untether Life is, “You came back!”
It gets me every time. There’s something so heartwarming about seeing someone’s face light up because they recognize us from a previous visit. Maybe we had a great conversation the last time we were there, shared a laugh, or only spent a few minutes together. Whatever the reason, they remember. And knowing that our visit meant enough for someone to remember us and be genuinely happy to see us again is an incredible feeling.
I think we sometimes assume that making a difference has to involve doing something big. These visits have reminded me that it really doesn’t. Sometimes it’s simply about showing up, sitting down with someone, having a conversation, listening to a story, or laughing together.
I love seeing the joy on the seniors’ faces when we visit, and I definitely get just as much out of the experience as I hope they do. I leave thinking about the people I met and the conversations we had. It’s a good reminder for me to slow down, be present, and appreciate how meaningful a little bit of human connection can be.
There’s another part of senior outreach that has become really personal to me: someday, that could be me.
If I’m lucky enough to grow old, I hope people will still want to sit with me, listen to my stories, laugh with me, and make me feel like I matter. I hope someone will walk through the door and be genuinely happy to spend a little time with me.
That’s why I’ve started thinking of senior outreach as a way to pay it forward. The people we visit have lived full lives, with careers, families, relationships, challenges, funny stories, hard days, and wonderful memories. Getting older doesn’t change the fact that we all want to feel seen, valued, and connected to other people.
Why I Keep Coming Back
I go into these visits hoping we can make someone’s day a little brighter. But honestly, they brighten mine, too. That’s probably one of my favorite things about being involved with Untether Life. You start out thinking you’re volunteering because you have something to give, and then you realize pretty quickly how much you’re getting back.
So when I walk through the door and hear someone happily say, “You came back!”, it reminds me exactly why I did.
And why I’ll keep coming back.
Email: partnership@untetherlife.org
Phone: (757) 289-9930
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Untether Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We are a collective of people with like-minded hearts who want to see the gospel advance through the loving of our neighbor.
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