Additional Coverage:
- My 88-year-old grandma lives the most fulfilled life of anyone I know. Her ‘secret to success’ is wildly simple. (businessinsider.com)
Grandma’s Secret to a Life Well-Lived: Don’t Grow Up, Just Live
My 88-year-old grandmother, Reva, has a bustling social life and a surprisingly simple philosophy: “Just live in the moment.” It’s a lesson she’s embodied throughout her life, inspiring me to embrace the present and worry less about the future.
After college, I’d often fret over life’s big decisions during our weekly visits. Reva would listen patiently, offering comfort and traditional Jewish treats.
Her response to my anxieties? “Emma, I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.”
It’s not that Grandma lacks direction. She’s simply mastered the art of living fully in the present.
At 18, she married an Army man she’d met through letters – a leap of faith driven by a spirit of adventure. This led to a 65-year love story filled with hand-holding, slow dances, and a nightly goodnight kiss.
Her career path was equally spontaneous. A brief stint in retail ended after encountering a rude coworker.
She moved on to be a legal secretary, but her boss was, in her words, “a putz.” Working for my grandfather’s accounting firm proved more rewarding, offering both hard work and post-tax-season vacations.
Later, she thrived alongside a best friend at my dad’s company, where she laughingly recalled “whipping the place into shape.”
Five years ago, after my grandfather passed, Reva embarked on a new chapter. Moving into a one-bedroom apartment in her 70s, she embraced solo living for the first time.
Surrounded by family and friends, her life was already rich with mahjong games, Friday night dinners, and calls with her 13 grandchildren. Yet, she found even more joy, transforming her neighbors into a vibrant social circle.
Winter days are filled with gossip in the party room, while summers bring book club gatherings by the pool. She’s even too busy sampling her neighbors’ signature cocktails to answer my calls these days!
Reva’s zest for life is infectious. She’s known for her infectious laugh, her vibrant social connections, and her unwavering commitment to finding happiness in the present moment.
Witnessing her joy challenged my own anxieties about the future. Why worry so much when the present offers so much?
Inspired by her example, I decided to stop agonizing over long-term plans and focus on what I wanted to do tomorrow. I quit my job in Chicago, moved to New York City, and embraced the unknown.
I joined comedy classes, forged new friendships, and dated without the pressure of finding “the one.” This approach led me to discover my passion for writing and ultimately, to pursue a journalism degree.
At my graduation, Grandma was too busy cheering to take photos. Neither of us knows what we want to be when we “grow up,” but we’re not concerned.
We’re happy today, and that’s all that matters. Tomorrow is another adventure waiting to unfold.