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| Married 68 years and still madly in love. |
Remarkably, in a bedside procedure using only some sedation, the neurosurgeon inserted a small valve and drained 170 cc of blood from my grandfather's brain. He recovered almost completely within hours, making jokes with the hospital staff and holding long conversations with me about engineering and philosophy.
I spent four long days pretty much just sitting in the hospital with my granddad talking to him and watching him interact with loads of other people. Everyone who comes in contact with him adores him. He has his flaws, but watching him interact with others reminded me of how lucky I am to have such a tremendous role model.
So I present to you a few lessons I have learned from my grandfather, both through verbal instruction and sheer example.
- Keep your sense of humor in all situations.
- Greet everyone with a smile. That includes every single doctor, nurse, orderly and even cleaning people. The most important surgeon and the lowliest customer service staff get the same warmth.
- Show genuine interest in everyone. Don't fake it, ask people about themselves and what they are doing and why they do what they do.
- Never stop learning.
- Travel as much as possible. Travel the world and get outside your own culture.
- Read every day. Read newspapers, magazines, and books to stay current.
- Be kind and compassionate, always.
- Trust your doctors, but ask lots of questions.
- Don't be too quick on the emotional trigger. Pause and consider circumstances before reacting.
- Set short and long term goals.
My granddad is now in an acute rehab hospital just working on building his walking strength and balance. He'll be home soon. We are so grateful.
Do any of these really resonate with you? What have you learned from your grandparents?
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