#1. Honoring friendships.
Grandparents have lost friends along the road of life which makes them appreciate those people they still have. They don’t ditch their friends or show up late because they truly value their relationships and appreciate that nothing is forever.
#2. Appreciating the moments.
Not only do they appreciate those around them but they also appreciate moments. Moments to themselves and with others. They stop and smell the roses, smile at children, and take long walks, and even let their hair down once in a while — always remembering to be grateful for their life.
#3. Taking care of themselves.
They make sure to eat their vegetables, get regular medical check-ups and do their daily exercise. They’re all too aware that they’re not invincible — so they make sure they take care of themselves.
#4. Making things with their hands.
The art of creating stuff with your hands seems to be on the decline. Life moves faster in the technology age but there’s something to be said for making something with your bare hands. Whether it’s your grandpa doing woodwork or your grandma making an amazing pie, grandparents know how to work with their hands — and they put their heart and soul into it. It’s therapeutic for the body as well as good for the soul when you can make something with your hands.
#5. Remaining strong in hard times.
Life experiences make us stronger. And the older we get the more we have to deal with difficult events. Grandparents will have experienced disappointment, pain, and loss in their life — but they’ve made it through them. They have learned how to find peace through these hard times and have learnt the art of always having hope.
#6. Avoiding distractions.
When you have dinner with your grandparents, they’re not glued to their smart phones or tablets. Even if they are tech savvy, they still believe in the importance of being with one another. They focus on the people that are in front of them instead of getting distracted. Can you say the same?
#7. Keeping family traditions.
Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving and other traditions are largely held by the grandparents. While you may not think it’s so important right now, someday you’ll appreciate the togetherness. When it’s your turn to bring together the family and spend all day in the kitchen, you’ll understand.
#8. Not sweating the small stuff.
Grandparents will be at the age where nearly everything that could have happened to them already has. They’ve learned that worrying doesn’t change what’s going to happen in life. If something needs to be done, they do it instead of fretting over it.
#9. Seeing the world.
When you look at your grandparents, you can tell that they see everything going on around them. They aren’t just looking, they really see. They smell the scents, take in the laughter of their grandchildren and feel tremendous pride for their family. If everyone could appreciate life the way grandparents do, we’d all be happier.
#10. Being money wise.
Grandparents are experiencing something you won’t for a long time and that’s retirement. They know how important it is to be wise with money during your working life because there will be a time when you have to live (and travel) off your savings.