My grandpa is the kind of man who talks to a complete stranger as if they were best friends. Whenever I go over to his house, I can count on two things: I will be eating good food, and I will be learning a lesson. It never fails, even when I visit for only a few minutes; I eat a meal and listen to my grandfather’s words of wisdom. Throughout the years, I’ve caught onto quite a few of them, and want to share them.

1. "It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice."

I’ve heard my grandpa say this many times to friends, strangers, family, and, of course, myself. He understands how necessary it is for us to treat each other with kindness. This statement is one he shares with so many people, because it can truly effect all of us: kindness can change our world. In the wake of all of the terrible and malicious acts of violence that take place today, there is one man preaching a message of true love for other people. I’m grateful that he has taught me.

2. "A stranger to me is just a friend I’ve never met."

I used to hear this and roll my eyes. Not every stranger is a potential friend. However, my grandfather has truly taught me that there is potential in anyone. This also taught me the power of being completely judgment-free. Rather than judging a person on their appearance, race, or other things, it’s important to see that every person is a human being and deserves our kindness. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, my grandpa can be friends with just about any person. And even more than that, I, or anyone else, can be friends with complete strangers, if we simply take the time to choose love.

3. "The food was only exceeded by its service."

A lesson we can all take from my grandpa is the importance of treating your servers right. This lesson applies to many situations, but in this context, he is almost always replying to the question, “Was everything okay?” or “How was everything this evening?” Even if the food was cold and the waiter was slow, my grandfather gives the same response. He knows how hard it must be to deal with ungrateful customers and he would rather make someone’s day than ruin it. Sometimes, people just have off days, you never know what is happening in their lives. My grandpa chooses kindness over anything else, and always gives the waiter/waitress a compliment and tells them that their service was the best part of his meal.

4. "Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, today's a gift."

I hear this when I am struggling to make a decision or am anxious about what’s happening in my life. My grandpa always reminds me that I cannot stress over the past or the future. He likes to tell me this most when I am worried about letting someone down or disappointing someone in my life. He always tells me that as long as I am trying my best, nothing else matters. But he knows that I still worry. Instead, I must enjoy what is happening right now. I can’t worry my life away. No amount of worry can change the past or future, so I must be content with what is happening right now.

5. "This could be, just possibly, the best I've ever made."

Probably my favorite grandpa quote, this is the one I have heard the most. Whenever he makes his famous vegetable soup, my grandpa calls us to come over and eat, and inevitably, we always hear “This could be, just possibly, just maybe, the best I’ve ever made.” This lesson is to take pride in your work and the things that you love doing. Sometimes we lose sight of what our art is. Some of us write, some of us draw, and some of us make vegetable soup. My grandfather has always been proud of what he makes with his own two hands and I admire that.

All of these little sayings have stuck with me for 20 years and always will. My grandfather has taught me many vital lessons in being a person who makes this world a better place. I hope that he and all of the people he has effected continue to spread this message as well.