I’m a big believer in enjoying life. Enjoying the little things in life as well as the big things. I get excited about hearing a train whistle and even more excited when I can actually see the train. I love hearing church bells ring, and seeing bright red cardinals in my yard, and hummingbirds and butterflies in the bushes, and going to parades and being at the beach at night.  I’ve had many people say to me over the years – doesn’t take much to make you happy – and it’s true.   I am happy living a simple life and sharing that happiness with people I love. I love sharing these things with my granddaughters and seeing them smile and get excited. I think it’s important for them to learn to enjoy life – to be happy in the moment. There is something to be said for quality of life- living within your means so that you can slow down and enjoy life on a daily basis.

I just watched a documentary called Race to Nowhere about how the quality of kids’ lives today is lacking because of the educational system and the breakdown of family time. Teachers spoke about how so much taught in school is geared towards test scores and the future.  About how kids are spending 4 and 5 hours a day just doing homework after they get home from school. They were showing kids who were stressed out and just miserable, not enjoying their life at all. This should not be happening. Even if this is an over-generalization – it seems that it is still a trend.

I think this is one reason why it is so important for kids to live in a multi-generational climate. Back in the day, especially after the Great Depression, there was more of a tendency for generations of families to live together. I think there is a big advantage to this for children and older people. Having my grandmother living with us when I was growing up gave me an added dimension to my life. She shared her joy of everyday life with me and I’m so thankful for that now. We spent time together doing crafts and playing games. We planted flowers in the backyard and walked down to the mailbox to mail a letter and maybe chat with a neighbor along the way.  Interacting in different scenarios with either grandparents or elderly people in the community or your neighborhood definitely adds an additional dimension to a child’s life. It’s a chance to be with someone who isn’t quite as caught up in the whirlwind of life.

**I originally wrote this post in July of last year.