Lessons from Grandma
An inspirational list for dark times
In a few weeks, I’ll be sorting through my grandmother’s files to decide which materials to preserve from her 60-year career as a journalist and author. It’s a daunting task, to say the least. Geraldine Youcha was my hero. When I wrote my first-grade fairy tales, she edited them with her blue pen. She spoke to my third-grade class about being an author. She wrote about breastfeeding and universal childcare in the mid-’90s, long before they became Instagram buzz words.
When I was a young reporter, she called every Sunday to ask about my writing. We discussed our work as if we were equals. When an editor or fellowship committee rejected me, she questioned their intelligence. “What do they know?” she’d ask, and I found it hard to argue.
She believed in me so fiercely, there was no room for doubt. If she could be a freelance writer, so could I. If she could write four books after her kids were grown, I’d better get started on my first.
She’s been gone for 12 years, and I miss her every day. On her 80th birthday, I tried to capture what she meant to me in a list—a silly gift that turned out to be a family treasure. I’ve reprinted it here, in case you’re looking for some inspiration in these dark times.
Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Grandma
Never buy retail.
If you’re hungry, eat. Even if it’s 7 a.m.
Always have a banana handy.
Books hold the secrets of the world.
Journalists have the best job in the world.
If you don’t know, ask.
If you’re wrong, admit it.
Write from your heart.
Edit carefully.
If it’s not moldy, it’s edible.
Hug tightly, laugh often.
No need to learn directions. Get lost enough, you’ll find your way.
Love your family, love your work, and make time for both.
Nap.
Speak softly but carry a big cane.
From the silly to the sublime. It's a delightful list, Lisa--thank you for sharing it!
Love love love this. Kind of want to frame these life rules above my bed now. Thank you for sharing.