We grandmas are a grateful bunch. We’ve reached the stage in our lives where we appreciate the simple pleasures of being with our grandchildren, our families and friends, and if we’re lucky, having good health.
Grateful People Are Happier
According to a 2016 article in Time Magazine on “The Science of Happiness,” people who are regularly grateful, who acknowledge the goodness in life, who find joy and laughter, are generally healthier and happier.
I’ve had a daily practice of expressing my gratitude since 9/11. Every night at dinner, I light a candle and then my husband and I each say something we’re grateful for that day. It’s such a simple act and yet it can have such a profound effect on your mood and your perspective.
GaGa Sisterhood Members Share Their Gratitude
At our recent GaGa Sisterhood holiday luncheon, 20 of us grandmas celebrated the 13th anniversary of the GaGa Sisterhood. After lunch, we gathered in a circle and shared some of the many things we’re grateful for. Here are some:
- Being able to get together with family who are scattered around the country.
- Having a flexible body that allows me to hike and do yoga.
- Moving from Brazil and starting a new life near my grandchildren.
- Celebrating 55 years of marriage and world travel together.
- Seeing my adult children and their spouses get along and enjoy being together.
- Being welcomed and encouraged to participate in my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter’s daily lives.
- Living next door to my daughter and her 7 children and being such a big part of their lives.
- Providing cultural opportunities for my granddaughter that her parents can’t afford.
- Earning the respect of my 2 grandchildren even though I’m stricter than their parents.
- Enjoying the company of my 2 granddaughters every Friday for the past 15 years.
Grateful for My Granddaughters’ Music
One of my greatest joys is sitting beside my 2 granddaughters when they practice the piano. Since they live 2 hours away, I can’t be there as often as I’d like. So they call us several times a week and play for 30 minutes while we listen. Their music is such a gift in our lives, I asked them if they would give my mother — their great-grandma — a piano concert for her 94th birthday. They both agreed and prepared a 30-minute concert at my mom’s residence.
As I stood before the group of family and friends to introduce my granddaughters, I said that being able to play an instrument is a gift and one to be shared. It was definitely one of my proudest moments and I was truly grateful to my granddaughters for sharing their gift on the special occasion of my mother’s birthday.
Note: The photo above was taken at my mom’s 94th birthday celebration with her 3 great-granddaughters who are 13, 9 and 2.
