Life Lessons
5 Life Lessons From My Great-Grandmother
I am lucky enough to still have my great-grandmother with me. Due to my mum having me at 16, she has seen a further generation that she may not have.
Her birthday passed recently, and it made me reflect on how much of a vital role she has played in my life. Most great-grandmothers probably do not have as much of an effect on parenting as she did with me.
Due to my mother being pregnant with me in St.Lucia, she needed somewhere to go. And my great-grandmother in the UK opened the door for her to come in.
At the time, she must have known that she would be taking on parental responsibility for me. And she did a great job at it. As my mum was finishing her education, my great-grandma became my primary career. And to no surprise, my first word as a child was nan.
It was tough growing up in that home. Neither of them had high paying jobs, so the family did not have much money. But somehow, we survived. And thanks to my great-grandmother, we were able to push through.
When I look back on it, she was teaching both my mother and me. My mum was still a young and vibrant teenager with loads more to learn. And I was a child just trying to find my feet. So she had the pressures of teaching both of us whilst carrying the burden of keeping us all safe.
As I have got older, my great-grandma has appeared to not age at all. She still goes for groceries and daily walks. Not to mention, she spends a lot of her time still helping people in prison turn their lives around. In her old age, she is still active and is very happy.
When I called her to wish her a happy birthday, she let me know that she was content. And although she had recently hurt her hand, she felt good and blessed to be alive. I do not know many people who can say they are fully content.
She told me that she does not want any birthday gifts because she would feel greedy. She let me know that she has everything she needs and wants. Therefore, asking for any more would be greed.
Ever since that phone call, I have been reflecting on her life. She does not have much, but she has reached a level of happiness and contentment I am sure we all want. And I believe it is due to some of the daily habits and life choices she has made.
I often do forget to call her regularly. So I am hoping that once she reads this, she can forgive me for my inconsistency. But her life has inspired me and I will forever be indebted to her. And if I ever reach her age, I would love to be able to say the words:
“To want anymore would be greed.”
So, here are the five lessons I have learned from my great-grandmother and her fulfilling life.
Start the Day With an Uplifting Song
For as long as I can remember, my great-grandma has always woken up early and sang uplifting songs. I would sometimes hear her singing before anyone had got up when I used to be a child.
The most memorable moments is when she used to take me to school. On our way to the school gates, we would sing the whole way. Coming from a Christian home, it would often be an uplifting Christian song. I could imagine the look on people’s faces as we would walk down the road.
They probably thought we were strange and overexcited at 8 am. But we did not have a care in the world. It was the beginning of a new day, and we wished to welcome its opportunities with a song.
The morning is an essential part of the day because it determines your outlook. When I find myself thinking about how busy I will be in the morning, I tend to walk to work slightly upset. And by the end of the day, I am exhausted and demotivated to do anything.
Nowadays, the first thing we do in the morning is to check our notifications. And then worry about how we are going to get to work on time. All of this rushing and panic does not help us see the day as a new fresh start to life. Instead, we see it as burdensome and tiring.
However, by starting it with a song, we lift the spirits of the day and feel ready to go for it. Some of the happiest moments in my life have been when I have joined my great-grandma in singing. It puts your mind at ease and excites you for the day ahead.
So, try taking a note out of her book and sing an uplifting song to start the day.
Pay Attention to What You Eat
Everyone knows my great-grandmother to be quite a fussy eater. She does not like eating out at restaurants or try food cooked by people she does not trust. Part of this is because she is a vegan. And she has been one since I was a child.
She is constantly looking for new things to add to her meal to make it more nutritious. Recently, she was telling me about an oil she puts in her food that helps her joints.
I have always been amazed by my great-grandmother’s diet. I would never be able to do it myself, but her attention to detail is what has kept her fit. We often take for granted how important food is to our overall wellbeing, not just our physical health.
I can see the joy on her face when she is eating a meal that is full of nutrition. And by putting good things into our bodies, we feel better about ourselves.
She has read numerous books on diets and healthy living and promotes it in the family when she can. Although I like my steaks and chicken too much, I can appreciate that healthy living has played a massive part in her overall satisfaction in life.
She feels good because she makes an active choice every day to consume good things. And not only does that keep her healthy, but it also helps her feel better about herself.
Fall in Love With Nature
Everyone knows that my great-grandma is keen on her plants. She has always taken good care of her garden and makes sure that they are all well kept. As a child, I always had to be careful around her plants.
A bit like her food, she is very picky on who she lets touch them. However, her plants are not the only thing. She loves going on walks and getting fresh air when she can. She enjoys the joys of nature and the calmness it brings.
Once again, we tend to take advantage of the beauty of nature. Most of us spend the majority of our time inside, either at work or home. With many things at our fingertips or a push of a button away, we get frustrated when we have to leave our homes for something.
However, I have experienced first hand the benefits of spending time in nature. I am now someone who rarely runs out of ideas because I take frequent walks across my local field.
It helps me meditate on my life experiences and make unique connections between them. Not only this, falling in love with nature is falling in love with self. We are part of nature, and like everything in the ecosystem, we live, grow then pass away.
By appreciating the beauties of nature, we, in turn, realise that we too are beautiful and part of it. So, like my great-grandmother, we should spend more time with it and protect it. After all, we are part of it.
Be a Giver at Heart
I believe my mother has a giving spirit because of my great-grandmother. As I have already highlighted, she does not have much, but anything she does have, she tries to give. She used to always quote this scripture from the Bible:
“Silver and Gold have I not, but what I have I give.”
We can give way more to people than we think. And none of those things has to cost us anything at all but time and effort. My great-grandmother pre-COVID spent much of her time in prisons helping criminals. She also always gives to my less abled friend who has one leg.
Even when people do not deserve her love and attention, she tries her best to accommodate them. And you may say that this giving attitude can get you hurt in today’s world. Many may not appreciate it, and some may take advantage of it.
However, the power of giving is that it works two ways. When we give, we feel better within ourselves. It equips us with a mindset of abundance and allows us to receive more in the future. I speak more about this effect in the article below.
Despite my great-grandmother not being rich, she was never out of pocket when she gave to others. She always seemed to have enough and live for herself. That tells me that as she gave more, she received more too.
So, try finding more opportunities to give to others in your life. It will make them feel better and put a smile on their face. But it will also remind you that you are important to the world and others.
Be Happy With Less
Finally, I want to come back to what my great-grandmother told me on her birthday. That is if she were to ask for any more in life, she would be greedy.
Now to many people, my great-grandmother could do with a whole lot more. A car, a bigger house, a bit more money, and the list would go on and on. But like the great philosopher Socrates said:
“ The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
It is possible to experience just as much happiness as a millionaire if you can enjoy less. Those who appreciate the simple things in life can be grateful for more. And gratitude is a huge part of our happiness.
Small things like a glass of water, seeing the birds and waking up in the morning are all things we could appreciate more. The reality is, many people are going to go to sleep tonight and not wake up. Some people are going to lose a loved one to a terrible accident today.
Life is too short for us to make a fuss about the could have’s and the have not’s. My great-grandmother has shown me that by truly appreciating what you have, you can obtain contentment.
Quick Summary
Here is a quick summary of the lessons my great-grandmother has taught me:
Lesson 1: Start the day with an uplifting song. Try singing or playing music in the morning before you start your activities.
Lesson 2: Pay attention to what you eat. When you know you are putting good things into your body, you will feel better.
Lesson 3: Fall in love with nature. Try your best to remain close to nature to reap the benefits of seeing the beauty in it.
Lesson 4: Be a giver at heart. Do not just wait for opportunities to give. Seek them. And you will receive more in the future.
Lesson 5: Be happy with less. The secret to happiness is appreciating the small things and enjoying less.
