Employees and personnel on every level of operations were ENTHUSED AND EXHILIRATED BY THIS FAMILIAR (read: entirely familiar to us at Regency Post-acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Centers) ‘FEEL GOOD’ STORY!!!
The wisdom of our elders is no doubt America’s most untapped resource. But that is changing.
Friends,
Meet Barbara Beskind.
She is 91 years young!
While growing up during the Great Depression, Barbara Beskind was an inventor by necessity who hoped to become one professionally.
Eight decades later, the 91-year-old has finally realized her dream at a top design firm in Silicon Valley.
“As a 10-year-old I wanted to be an inventor,” Beskind told Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY Friday. “I’ve arrived. But it took me about 80 years.”
Beskind was 10 years old during the Great Depression, when ingenuity was a life requirement.
“I wanted to make a hobby horse, and I made it out of old tires,” she said. “I learned a lot about gravity because I fell off so many times.”
Her initial dreams of becoming an inventor were dashed when her high school guidance counselor told her that engineering schools don’t accept females. Instead, she served in the U.S. Army and as an occupational therapist while also writing books and learning to paint. Two years ago, she read about the Silicon Valley design firm IDEO and decided to apply for a job at the firm, which is famous for designing the first mouse for Apple and dozens of other well-known devices.
WELL GUESS WHAT?
SHE WAS HIRED!
Not only was she hired, she now holds court at her firm every Thursday and has already developed several innovative healthcare related technologies!
Here is what she said (I absolutely LOVE this quote!!):
“I’ve retired five times, but it’s like a vaccination that doesn’t take.”
— Barbara Beskin
When a colleague sent me a link to this amazing story (read the detailed coverage here) and asked me what I thought and whether I like the story, here is how I responded:
“Yes.
I like it very much.
Senior citizen.
Brilliant.
Active.
Exhibits a zest for life.
Appreciates ingenuity.
Accomplishes great things.
…heck, it’s the Regency story in a microcosm.
What’s not to like?”
I MEANT EVERY WORD.
