It’s been about eight months since the last “From Grampy’s Rocker” blog. I guess you could say I’ve been “off my rocker” since then. Well, I’m back on my rocker and am ready to talk some “Grampy smack.” Lately, I’ve been thinking about meaning and memories and how they’re related to what I do 24/7. I mean, the obvious way they are related to my daily life is that I get to attribute meaning to everything I choose to do or experience. And, I create memories with my attached attributed meanings by the choices I make. Wow, that’s profound and can generate all kinds of discussions.
But, I’ve been thinking about what I might do differently as a parent if I could go back in time as the “older me” and have a do over. This is beginning to sound like a Dickens story! How do we know what we don’t know? Do we actually need a ghost of the past and a ghost of the future to help us know what meaning and memories we desire? Can we pause in our busy lives, even as parents with younger children, and intentionally develop our skill in attributing “the meaning and creating the memories” for our desired legacy as family?
My answers to those questions are, “We learn it through experience and/or our imagination;” ”Maybe…of sorts” and “Of course we can.” Here’s the real question, “Will we pause and develop effective ways to choose our individual and shared meaning and memories?” My wife and I have always talked about these aspects of our lives together, but we’ve taken it to a new level since we became grandparents. She and our discussions together have been my ghosts of the past and future. It’s amazing what you can know when you take time together to think clearly and purposefully… imagining your desired outcomes (your shared dreams).
I encourage you to take time with your parenting partner to discuss how you’ll take charge of your personal and shared “meaning and memories” with your children. Purposely create a healthy family. It pays dividends that never stop.
Something to make you smile:
A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him that she was writing a story. “What’s it about?” he asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”
Humor an old Grampy and leave me a comment about your thoughts. ‘Til next time…”Claim your power and expand your dreams.” ~Dr. B