Their Golden Years, Our Golden Futures

11/7/21

How I wish now I had listened to my grandparents on both sides of my family. The elderly share wisdom I desperately needed to hear. Some of it I took with me but some of the old proverbs I snubbed my nose at because let’s face it we know everything in our 20’s.

Some of the ones I did take with me was “pretty is as pretty does.” That’s one of my favorites. Meaning what you have at present is just as good as what you might get.

Another favorite is “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. “ The basic meaning is similar to the grass is always greener.

But the lessons I didn’t take with me:

- Appearances can be deceptive.
- You reap what you sow. (You sure do!)
- Two wrongs don’t make it right.
- Good things come to those who wait.
- Birds of a feather flock together.
- What goes around comes around.
- Where there’s smoke there’s fire.
- You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
- You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
- Lie down with dogs; wake up with fleas.
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- Curses like chicken, come home to roost.
- Hatred stirs up conflict but love covers all wounds.
- You will be scared to do things. Do them anyway.
- Letting go of the past releases the pain.
- Express your feelings.
- Acceptance is the first step to freedom from the past.

In my 20’s, I thought I had life figured out. I have argued my point to my grandmother regarding the above proverbs. I should have been listening to her instead. The older I get the more I see that she was right. She is always right. I was wrong. I didn’t take those lessons with me but you better believe I learned them the hard way.

Life is not always a kind teacher even so; I grew from the lessons. ❤️