We laid my grandmother to rest today. I hope you don’t mind me writing this. It’s kind of part of my process, I guess. Death is so weird. It is long and complicated, and sometimes it is short and on impact . I don’t know which I would want for myself. I think the least suffering would be the best. But they have medicine for that now. I watched my mom be a rock star. She really is the best. She is so comforting in tough situations. I hope she knows that she is a blessing to so many.

 

My grandmother is awesome.

She says funny things. And loves laughing. She teaches me to find joy in all seasons and circumstances. Sometimes, she has laughing , giggle fits, and we all just laugh with her. And it makes life better. She likes to joke with you. And she says, in her own way, sarcastic things. Sometimes they’re mean and I’ve cried over a few, but She’s grandmother and she gets to say whatever she wants because she is grandmother.

She never lets us call her granny because granny’s are old, and she’s not old. So we call her grandmother, or she gets on to us.

She makes up the funniest songs ever. Well they aren’t made up , but they are random and fun. And I haven’t been able to get them out of my head.

She just teaches people not to take life so seriously and to have fun.

Sometimes, I struggle with depression, But it never fails, I have moments like this, where I get around my grandmother , and we laugh, and she just carries joy with her. And it puts me back in my place.

Humans have this amazing ability to heal or destroy with words.

Grandparents, if you’re lucky, have an amazing healing power with the role they play in their grandkids lives. Seriously, they find the gold in their grandkids and make sure, without a doubt that they know they are valuable and can do wonderful things with their lives.  But also have this crazy ability to say hard things and get through to us as well.

Now I realize not every situation is the same. But I am grateful that my story includes this reality. And if you don’t have people in your life that see your potential, find some that do. Because you have potential. I promise.

She by no means lives a perfect life. She struggled and got angry , and probably messed up a few times, like the rest of us. But she , she is full of wisdom. She is full of love. She is set firmly in her ways, but it is not without love, and letting people, especially her grandkids know we are loved by her.

 

I think that is what death does. It reminds us that the things we fret over are tiny compared to the amazing opportunity we have in this lifetime to leave a legacy.   I will always hold what I gleaned from her, as priceless. And in my moments when life seems daunting or is telling me I am a failure, I will always laugh, and remember to find joy.

I want to leave a legacy. I want people to think of me, and it encourage them to move forward and do powerful things. To remember that its okay to laugh, to love, and not take yourself so seriously.

There is truly no one like you. No one can leave the mark you have the ability to leave.
Use your time wisely, and have fun while you do it ❤

Be encouraged,

Rachael