--- title: All they need is 15 minutes… description: I walked to my neighbourhood market this morning for breakfast and some “auntie” shopping as my daughter would call it. On the way back I met an 80-year-o image: https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hubfs/Pg3a.jpg --- # Single Blog Page ## A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul. ## [All they need is 15 minutes…](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/all-they-need-is-15-minutes-) Date: 28-Jan-2021 Category: [Society](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society) [Family](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family) [Aging](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/aging) # All they need is 15 minutes… Posted by [Pearl Lee](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/author/pearl-lee) on 21-Jan-2021 12:40:21 I walked to my neighbourhood market this morning for breakfast and some “auntie” shopping as my daughter would call it. On the way back I met an 80-year-old lady and somehow, we began to chat. My Mandarin is at best rudimentary but I struggled on, sensing she wanted to talk. At first it was about how cheap the fruits n veggies were at the stalls this morning but slowly I found out she lived in the area with her daughter and family. She spoke crisply and clearly, with a very strong accent since she originally was from Shanghai. We spoke about this and that for maybe 15 mins (with me grasping maybe 50% of what she said, nodding my head when really I had no clue what she was saying!) and finally as we went our separately ways she said “you know I have probably spoken longer with you today than I have all week with my family...”. I was sad and happy at the same time. Sad that that is the reality of ageing for some people these days but happy that I was able to make the day a little bit better for a sweet old lady. Spare a minute for our elderly ... they only need us to be there, listening, even if it is only for a few minutes. Soon it will be our turn... **他们只需要15分钟...** 今天早上，我到了附近巴刹吃早餐和买菜。在回家的路上，我遇到了一位80岁婆婆。不知何故，我们开始聊天；闲聊着今天水果蔬菜价格有多便宜。后来我慢慢得知她和女儿及家人住在该地区。婆婆来自上海，声音清晰，口音重。 我们闲聊大小事，大概持续了15分钟（因为我的华文沟通水平只能算是初级，我大概只听懂一半，只好一直点点头！）。最后，当我们向对方道别时，婆婆说：“妳知道我今天和妳的谈话时间可能比整周与家人的谈话时间更长……”。 我既感到遗憾又高兴；遗憾的是，这是当今某些人衰老的现实，高兴的是，我能够让这位和蔼可亲的婆婆的一天过得更美好一些。 为我们的年长者抽出一分钟。他们只需要我们的聆听，即使只有几分钟。 很快地就会轮到我们了。 *Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not **necessarily reflect those of St. John's Home for Elderly Persons.* *St John's Home for Elderly Persons is not a government-subvented Home and depend largely on the public's generosity to enable us to continue our work as a Registered Charity.* *Please support our Home by donating generously: [https://www.giving.sg/stjohnshomesg](https://www.giving.sg/stjohnshomesg)* Topics: [Society](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society), [Family](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family), [Aging](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/aging) ### Recent Posts [#### Sharing SJH's Experi... “We would like to visit again ... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/sharing-sjhs-experience-in-eldercare) [#### Bringing joy & F... 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On 25 Oct 2025, residents of S... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/arriving-as-strangers-leaving-as-friends) ### Categories - [Society (51)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society) - [Wellness (44)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/wellness) - [Family (42)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family) - [Aging (41)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/aging) - [Happiness (39)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/happiness) - [Leisure (32)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/leisure) ### Subscribe our Newsletter ## Want to work with us? [A wonderful serenity has](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/all-they-need-is-15-minutes-#) taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot. 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