A grandmother is sitting and meditating about her long life. She has witnessed numerous days some with great happiness and some with great suffering. As she becomes older, she gets to see the things better. She would like to express her ideas to other elderly women. She believes that a lot of them are unaware of how to feel happy. Life is slow, worries have increased but she believes that one can be happy at any age. She recalls her young days and life was hectic. Work always had to get done, there were people to attend to, and work to bear.
Grandmother Happiness
Upon that occasion, she did not really give much thought into happiness. Always on the go. Here, now on old age, where she has more time to sit and think. This is because she knows that happiness has always been around her, but she just never realized it. The grandmother realizes that there are a lot of lonely old ladies. Their children are active and their houses are silent. This silence can at times be a heavy burden to their hearts. She knows how that feels, yet she thinks that being sad won’t assist. She tenderly wishes to inform them that even when there is nothing, one can find peace.
She sees also that some old ladies continue to think of the past. They keep in mind errors, regrets, and missed opportunities. Such ideas bring them discontent. According to the grandmother, the past cannot be changed and thus there is no need to continue bearing the weight of the past daily. She believes that it is time to forget about such thoughts and live in the present moment. The grandmother has come to appreciate little things. God knows she wants other old maids to glimpse these little pleasures and keep a hold of them.
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She also believes that it is highly important to take care of the mind. The mind is occupied by worry and the heart gets weary. She attempts to restrain her mind to lightness and gentleness. She feels that positive thinking can gradually alter the way an individual is feeling inside. The slightest shifts in thinking can bring some feeling of relaxation. The grandmother believes that it is good to be thankful and it will help. She feels happier when she considers what she is yet to have. She is of the opinion that when one merely dwells on the absence one creates sadness.
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She would like old ladies to realize that even at their age, life is still worth living. A heart and mind are strong even when the body is weak. It is not too late to be peaceful, to smile, to find pleasure in simple ways in life. Ultimately, the grandmother tenderly hopes that every old lady would like to be happy. Not by altering the world in which they live, but by altering the way they perceive it. She reckons that old age does not mean that one cannot be happy. It only requires a kind heart, a serene mind and simple lifestyle.
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