Wordnerdery Sue Horner’s monthly tips on words and ways to reach readers (and sometimes other diversions) – December 2023

Issue 130 – December 2023

Life lessons from my granddaughter

We are still getting to know each other, my granddaughter and I, but she is already teaching me things we all should do every day.

There’s nothing quite like a child to reset your priorities. Remind you of what’s important. And sure, upend your life, what with messing up your sleep and body and mind and all.

This is freshly on my mind thanks to my new granddaughter, who just turned one. (Yes, our family is over the moon!)

We are still getting to know each other, my granddaughter and I, but I can already see through her eyes. Here are 27 of the things she is teaching me we all should do every day:

  1. Explore the world.
  2. Be fearless. So what if you fall?
  3. Play every day.
  4. Have fun.
  5. Sing and dance.
  6. Share your toys.
  7. Eat with gusto.
  8. Try new foods.
  9. Take naps when you need to.
  10. Keep learning.
  11. Be curious.
  12. Try new things.
  13. Read a lot.
  14. Fast forward to the end of a book if you’re bored.
  15. Tell or show others how you feel.
  16. Know that it’s okay to cry.
  17. You can be sad when someone’s leaving, but remember they’ll be back.
  18. Laugh.
  19. Sing.
  20. Be brave.
  21. Believe in yourself; you can do hard things.
  22. Let your personality shine.
  23. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
  24. Look for the miracles in everyday life.
  25. Live in the moment.
  26. Show your people you love them.
  27. Know that you’re perfect just the way you are.

Do those life lessons ring true for you, too?

Whatever life lessons you most take to heart, I wish you a merry Christmas, if you celebrate it, and happy holidays if you don't. Here's to remembering what matters in 2024.

Email me!

Related reading:

We can learn a lot from dogs, too

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

More in the Red Jacket Diaries:

Fun things to know about Christmas trees

Gifts for writers and readers, 2023 edition

© Copyright 2023 Get It Write. All rights reserved. She/her. Find me online at GetItWrite.ca, connect with me on LinkedIn or follow me on X (I’m still there; are you?). And why not subscribe to Wordnerdery?