I know weâve all learned a lot from 2020 *cringe* and are more than happy to leave the past in the past. I get it and Iâm with you in many ways there. But as we start this new year, I have to add that there have been many moments and lessons to be grateful for. So as we turn the page (or is it millennium? lifetime?) on 2020, in the spirit of a new year full of promise, Iâd especially like to remember some of the lessons I learned from my lifelong best friend – my grandfather, who I lost in 2020.
He taught me how to live life with courage, charisma, conviction, and, in the most important way, with kindness â to himself, his community, his friends, and even his foes.
As a âsocial media personalityâ, or whatever you want to call me, my business is pretty much just out there all the time. There are two things, however, that I make an effort to keep somewhat private â dating and family. For those of you who do know me, you know thereâs not much for me to report on the dating front, so Iâm venturing into new territory here by discussing family, but with a purpose and a question for you: What have you learned from the generation or two before you that you keep with you still today? Or even wish you exemplified more in yourself?
So much has changed since my grandfather was growing up. He had to adapt to new ways of being a modern gentleman for every era; from the rolling out of television to the rolling out of âwhat is televisionâ? Do you mean like Netflix? But what endured through it all was his abiding confidence in himself and his love for the people in his life. His âluxuriousâlifestyle was not about things, but about his connection to the world around him.
Letâs face it, our phones rule our lives. We as Millennials check them 150 times a day â and that was before the pandemic. After living life almost entirely digitally these past 9 months, going into the new year I want to remember these #IRL lessons now more than ever, and to offer you tools and strategies for implementing these lessons in this weekâs column.
Say hi to people. Random people. All people.
Respect those with opposing opinions.