Happy Sunday Everyone:
My Grammie passed away on Tuesday, 102 great years!! I honestly hadn’t planned to write about it, thinking this is too much about my family vs. thoughts going through my head, then a friend who knew it happened said he felt close to her because of the stories I’ve shared in these emails. So with that small boost of confidence (thank you, Kevin), I’m going to close out this chapter with some thoughts about the greatest person I have ever known and my take aways from watching her in action.
Any comparison of my Grammie and me, I say so with a high degree of humility, as she’s not comparable to anyone or anything but one commonality I’ve heard of us both sharing is being “old” souls. Immediately after holding me as a baby, she told my mom “oh, he’s been here before”. That bond between us grew throughout my life. We loved contemplating the bigger picture of what made us all tick. Why were we who we were? How do we find peace outside and inside of ourselves? what is the meaning of life? Those are the conversations I’ve been having with her from my 20’s to her passing. Before that she was just a great grandma, after that, she became my biggest mentor, someone who I was utterly amazed with, as was anyone that was in her presence. She lived in a constant state of growth and peace. She never wanted to stop learning, observing, taking it all in, and then reflecting back on it. She mastered finding joy in the journey of life. The pains, the pleasures, the hard times, the good times, they all blended into one with her. Her upbringing was hard but to hear her tell the stories, it was all a mystic adventure and journey.
I wish so many of you could have been in her presence. Anyone that met her walked away feeling her glow.
Life lessons she unintentionally taught those around her.
1. She was the best listener. The amount of secrets from others that she took with her are countless. She listened to everyone. I can think of no occasion where I saw her waiting to speak. She heard you, and you felt cared for by her. She listened with patience and love.
2. She didn’t judge anyone. This went hand in hand with her being a listener. Everyone brought their problems to her because there was no concern of judgement. She allowed total vulnerability with no repercussions.
3. She was constantly seeking knowledge. This lead to her ability to communicate with anyone about anything. It lead to a life of growth vs. shrinkage. Her Jungian Psychology book club was at her house 1 week before she passed. Her last day on this earth was her wisest.
4. She shared her love. She told everyone what they meant to her. She gave out so much love and in return received it right back. I can hear her telling me she loves me. It was her start and stop to every conversation I had with her. She left this earth leaving nothing unsaid which creates a massive peace for all of us she left behind. We should pay this forward.
There are so many more. I could literally write a book on what she brought to this world. I’ll leave you with the same questions I’ve shared 4 times now on these Sunday thoughts. Questions I asked her before her 100th birthday and her responses. When I reflect back on them, I’m realizing my favorite part is after she quotes Robert Frost -The Road Not Taken and says “IT HAS”…..that says it all about my Grammie.
_________________I’m obviously the Q and she’s the A.
Hi Hunter–These may well not be what you are looking for–this is just me.
Q: What are three things you are most grateful for?
A. The Love from and for my husband, and my family from birth, to the present.
A. All the experiences of my long life, both positive and negative. I have learned
and hopefully matured from them as I have accepted them and integrated the
lessons learned into my life.
A. My home in a “nature” setting, peaceful and relaxing.
Q What advice would you give your younger self?
.
A. Put forth your best effort in all that you do. Have faith that all is turning out for the best,
no matter how it may look on the surface at the time. Sometimes we find out later that
something else that developed was better.
Q. What is one thing that turned out to be more important than you realized?
A. The study of child psychology to help with raising a family. That developed into the study
of my own human nature and acceptance of all of it. The result: As I accepted all of my
self, especially the repressed parts (or my shadow) I found judgmentalism of others fading
away, and accepting them for who they are. (not necessarily liking their behavior).
Q. What is one thing that you thought was important, but wasn’t?
A. Status–financially, socially, etc. ( Do not compare yourself to others.)
Q. What advice would you give to the people reading this, now that you’re 100?
A. Be aware consciously of your own highest values and stay true to them, regardless of the
cultural values around you,
—————————————————————————————————
from Robert Frost – – -The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(It has!) Love you,
Grammie
If you’re still reading this, Have a great week, and please, no condolences needed. She lived the best life ever and went out on top.