Putting on my tennis shoes, I left the house ready for a three-mile senior ``fast walk.'' I hoped the rain would stay at a drizzle.

The fast walk turned into a much more leisurely pace as I saw an elderly neighbor slowly coming down the street.

I'm considered a senior citizen but this gentle Indian Hindu soul is around 80. She recently had knee-replacement surgery, but to my surprise, she was strolling along quite well. Knowing she loved company, I had a decision to make. In the long scheme of life, does a power walk outweigh the joy one can bring to another walking much slower?

Having been raised by parents who extolled giving, I put the power walk on hold. Time and aerobic exercise were irrelevant.

As I took the arm of my neighbor, we started talking. She had just watched her daily religious program on Indian TV. Today's discussion dealt with loving one another and helping those in need. Our dialogue turned to our children and their responsibilities.

The neighbor is a patient and sagacious woman. She is respected and loved by her children. As she took diligent care of them in their youth, the time came for her to live with her son and his family who welcomed her into a large, converted garage suite.

Although strongly independent, the neighbor is aware of the aging process and the toll it takes on the body. She exercises diligently and is a great role model.

Advocating unconditional love does not mean we hold our children unaccountable. There are consequences for behavior -- good and bad. The neighbor is reaping the good consequences because of the investment she made as her children developed and grew into adulthood.

Her grandchildren see the love and respect lavished on her by their parents. They are learning real-life lessons, including those about the aging process.

Taking the time to talk with another person -- regardless of age -- demonstrates an interest in the individual and can be a potent indicator of one's mental health and concern for humanity. It illustrates compassion.

As parents, we should be the most important examples to our children. Fixation on ``communication'' systems like the iPod, Internet, television, movies and cellphone have all too quickly become an obsession. And, ironically, the devices have gotten in the way of soul-to-soul communication -- the kind that nourishes.

We need to teach our children the value of taking the time to talk face-to-face with others. Courtesy and good communication skills empower us. They are part of the ``obtaining knowledge'' component of a good education.

If we are able to show kindness to another person, then perhaps we have been lucky enough to add to the betterment of society -- even if it is just a little bit.

Robin Sarantos, Ph.D., retired from the Miami-Dade Public Schools, was a counselor at Coral Reef High. E-mail her your questions or suggestions for future columns to rsarantos@aol.com.

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