It’s funny the things you take for granted. The thought of losing something or someone that’s so very special to you, and how it never comes to your mind. You never think about losing someone you love before it’s too late. Luckily for me, I identified my appreciation and love before I lost my chance.
My love for my grandmother was brought back to my attention after a trend at my college, “BSU gives away gratitude,” which was a hashtag for social media sites. This was a contest where you needed to post about something or someone you love or appreciate and when I was scrolling around for an idea, I found this picture of my Grandmother. When I look at the picture, I remember it like it was yesterday, even though several years have gone by since.
She’s wearing her favorite matte red lipstick, smiling her big toothy smile. I remember my cousin and I insisting that she hold up a peace sign with her hand. Initially, she protested and continued to roll her eyes, but seconds later held her two fingers up as we placed my bucket hat on her head. She groaned about how it was displeasing to the eyes. “This is such an ugly pink color to which I replied, “Grandma, that’s orange”.
We laughed and so did she as she shrugged her shoulders. I remember her asking “Why are you making me do this nonsense?” She acted like we were forcing her, as if she didn’t have a choice. However, the three of us knew she wouldn’t win the argument. She picked up her wine glass, which was filled with ice water and stuck her pose.
We took pictures and laughed together and no sooner did she remove my hat and turn her chair. Because the commercial break was over, her show was back on and “You kids need to quiet down!” My Grandmother means the absolute world to me and I came to recall this, thankfully sooner rather than later.
It’s crazy this day in age where we find ourselves and our whole generation taking advantage of what we have. There are so many things that are available to us, so many different possibilities and we overlook the things that are right in front of us. It makes me think about all the people who no longer have their Grandmother, or other family members for the sake of argument.
This moment felt like just another family get together- another memory, in the past. Little did I know at the time that this picture would mean so much more to me than I originally anticipated. After reflecting on my life and my outlook on life and what I have, I can’t help but recognize how lucky I am to have the things I do. Without this reminder, I wouldn’t be able to show my gratitude where it’s due.
I think as a society, we get so wrapped up in what we need and want we want and don’t give a second glance to the things we already have. This BSU gives away gratitude trend really humbled me, it brought me back down to Earth and opened my eyes to the things I should be thankful for, one of these things being my family and the precious moments we spend together because without them, would anything else really matter?
