What I've Learned About Myself: Eyes and Ears

The beginning of this year I started the Praxis program (more on that in tomorrow’s post), but I also began helping my grandfather through some medical issues. I was essentially the eyes and ears for my dad, who couldn’t do it because of work. So I spent a lot of time with my grandfather, taking him to appointments, running errands for him, and just being there for company. It had highs and lows, just like anything in life, but overall I wouldn’t trade those months for anything. They gave me a chance to get to know my grandfather better, learn more about his life and experiences (although I heard a few stories on repeat sometimes), and see some sides of him that I’d never seen before. I saw him frustrated, watched his interactions with the doctors and nurses and the positivity that emanated from him, listened to the discussions he had with friends, and learned a lot about life in just a few short months. It was a roller coaster of an experience. Some days seemed to drag on, some flew by, some held good news, some were troubling, but the one thing that was constant in my mind was how rare a chance I had been given.

Not many people get a chance to connect with their grandparents for an extended period. I was blessed with that opportunity and I’m so glad that I took it. I heard stories about some pretty cool things; my dad’s birth, my older brother’s birth (and how my grandpa held him, only to find out later he wasn’t supposed to and they wouldn’t allow my grandma to haha!), and the time he (my grandpa) met a musical hero of his and was offered a job to conduct the orchestra at freaking Disney World! And there was something magical about being transported back in time; seeing him remember those moments. He came to life telling those stories, a glint in his eye and a smile on his face. And he found the humor in everything, even cracking an occasional joke about things he did during recovery.

I guess this post is more about what I learned about my grandfather, but to conclude I do have something to share that I learned about myself. I learned what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be like my grandfather. Of course he’s not perfect, but I don’t expect myself to be either. What he got right is what’s important. And what’s important is being the person who can make anyone smile, even when you don’t feel like smiling yourself. Being the person who can captivate an audience just listening to stories about your past. The person who is so strong that even the doctors are surprised by how well you took a surgery that usually isn’t performed even on someone ten years younger than you. That’s the person I want to be. And that’s the person my grandfather is.