As you have learned from previous posts, my grandma was a school teacher. She highly valued education. Every Summer and on every special occasion when we were kids, my grandma would take me and my brother and cousin Julie to the bookstore to pick out books. We really looked forward to it. Through her actions and modeling of the importance of an education, she instilled in us a strong value of learning and growing.
In her recent years, my grandma would scour the newspapers and educational magazines and cut out relevant articles to send to all of her family members. She was always aware of what was going on in the world and constantly had new information to share with us about a huge variety of topics. Not only was she an avid reader and gatherer of information but she also instilled learning through travel and experiencing different cultures. It didn’t matter how she learned, she just loved learning and she gifted her children and grandchildren with that same love.
My cousin Julie followed in her footsteps and became a school teacher. I am proud to say she is beginning to work on her PhD in education. My brother and I both pursued college degrees and he went on to complete law school and is a consultant to companies and organizations where he gets to share his knowledge and continue to learn in the most gratifying ways. I continued my education and became a life coach and am a personal growth junkie, always learning something new about myself and the world I live in. Grandma was very proud of all three of us.
My grandma was so great at making learning fun for us and inspiring us to learn in our own ways. I bet you love to learn too? I wonder though, if you have been holding back on taking a class, reading a book, getting that degree or learning something new? If you were to step into my grandma’s enthusiasm for learning for a moment, what would you choose to focus on or do? What would that give you? Please share one thing you would like to do to enhance your knowledge base today.
My grandma would be so proud that her love of learning is being spread far and wide and that it is making a difference for more than just her students and family. She had no idea of the everlasting impact she would have even after she is physically gone. Today I honor, The Old Lady* by sharing her belief in the value of an education, and by challenging you to exercise your mind in a new or different way today. Please share one thing you will do in honor of my grandma, LaVerne. Thank you.