In this article, we draw on the insights of a woman who lived to 90 and passed away with a smile on her face, and whose wisdom continues to inspire to this day. Her grandson, Marc, was present at her bedside during her final moments, and learned life lessons from her that he has shared with others. In this article, Marc reflects on the five key ways in which his grandmother lived her life, offering readers inspiration for their own journeys. From persevering through challenges to finding peace in the present moment, we explore the insights of this remarkable woman and how they can help us live our best lives.
Important Details about 5 Reasons My 90-Year-Old Grandma Smiled Genuinely on Her Deathbed –
– Living well is important to consider before we pass away
– It’s important to avoid judging our own work and to keep pushing forward
– Perseverance is key in life and success often takes multiple attempts
– Focusing on the present and appreciating the little things is vital to living well
– Letting go is important for peace of mind and embracing the present moment
You Only Live Once, But If You Do It Right, Once Is Enough.
Twenty years ago, I had the privilege of witnessing my grandpa’s peaceful passing at the age of 89 in a hospice room. I sat there with my grandma and other family members, thinking about his life and whether I was living mine well. My grandma’s nurse came in and smiled, commenting that his passing was reflective of his life. This made me question if I was living my life to its fullest potential. However, it wasn’t until I sat with my 90-year-old grandmother on the final day of her life that I realized the true meaning of living well. As she lay there in incredible weakness and pain, she still managed to share stories of her life with me, even asking me if I knew why she was smiling. From that moment on, I knew that I had to share her wisdom and insights with the world. So today, on what would have been her 101st birthday, I’d like to honor her once again by sharing five inspiring points from the journal entry I wrote in her hospice room over two decades ago.
1. Never talk yourself out of doing your thing.
My grandma was inspired by Walt Disney’s quote: “Around here, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious — and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” She lived her life with this insight and passed it on to everyone she met. As human beings, we are often terrible judges of our own work. Nonetheless, our job isn’t to judge our work but to create and share our unique gifts with the world. Realize that there are people in nearly every career field who make each day a work of art simply by the way they have mastered their craft. Every artist will have the tendency to judge their own work. The important thing is to not let your self-judgment talk you out of doing your thing and sharing your creative and unique gifts with the world. Just like Walt said, the key is to “keep moving forward.”
2. Persevere through life’s many challenges.
Many people give up on their life stories far too early. They think that their efforts aren’t moving them forward, that nothing is getting done or changing. As a result, they become downcast and start looking for an easier path. But my grandma always believed that good things don’t come easy. “True strength consists of what you do on the third, fourth and fifth tries,” she used to say. Never give up on your journey, never stop trying, and never sell out or sell yourself short. Life is tough, but you are tougher. Your journey isn’t supposed to be easy – it’s supposed to be worth it.
3. Focus on the present and appreciate the little things.
“The best bet for living is to make the best and most positive use of the present,” my grandma used to say. Sometimes you have to stop searching, and just BE. You aren’t missing anything anywhere else. You’re only missing the goodness in front of you. Let me assure you, you could run around trying to do everything, and travel around the world, and always stay connected, and work and party all night long without sleep, but you could never do it all. You will always be missing something, and thus it will always seem like something amazing might be happening elsewhere. The best in life isn’t somewhere else – it’s right where you are at this moment. Notice it, and make it memorable.
4. Letting go brings peace of mind.
Letting go isn’t about having the ability to forget the past, it’s about having the wisdom to embrace the present and acknowledge that the past is part of your life story. My grandma never focused on the negative aspects of her life, and instead chose to remember the positive parts. She even had a “gratitude list” of everything she was grateful for in her life. Letting go is about taking control of your life by focusing on the positive aspects and what you can do in the present moment. Remember, we cannot change the past, but we can change our present and future by focusing on the positive things in life.
5. Your legacy is the impact you make on others.
“Your legacy is every life you’ve touched,” my grandma said. “It’s not about the money you made or the possessions you acquired throughout your lifetime.” Thus, she always lived her life with a focus on helping others. Whether it was simply offering the warmth of her care and concern or giving her time and resources to those in need, she made a difference in the lives of countless people. She reminds us that the only thing that really matters in life is the impact we have on others.
In conclusion, my grandmother’s passing was a true testament to her life. She was an amazing woman who imparted invaluable wisdom upon her loved ones, a wisdom that has helped countless people lead their own lives more fully. Remember, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.