Ain't it Grand to be Grand?

Okay, so all of us agree... we enjoy our role, as a GRANDparent, but it's also equally rewarding and beneficial to be grand friends, grand partners, grand supporters; you name it. We could be GRAND in lots of ways.

 As straightforward as it seems, we were here first, before all the titles! So think about this: how often have you gone to dinner with your friends, and just chatted about the grandkids? You've flipped through everyone's adorable pictures until the children and the pics all look alike. Does this sound familiar? It's not that it's a terrible thing. However, we would like you to take time to be present and mindful, and focus on what your interests are, and what makes you the person you're. Go ahead, there is nothing selfish or self-centered about sharing all that makes you... YOU! What about talking about what is going on in your lives? Our point here... let's not lose our identity. It's as easy as that. Let us remember to take some time for ourselves.

Let us contribute to our personal (Grand)ness by:

- Doing something which is hard or challenges our identity- yes, we can dye our hair purple if we like!

- Taking that one excursion we always swore we would take -- whether it is visiting Yosemite, hiking through the Italian countryside, visiting Cuba, spending a few nights in a mountain cabin, or pitching a tent in your backyard. Just do it!

- Going to the movies in the middle of the day in the middle of the week

- Really and truly exercising at least 30 minutes per day

- Asking a friend and taking the time to go to dinner, to the museum, to a play

- Sitting back and being grateful for who we are and where we are. Let's take some time to self-reflect in the middle of a busy day.