The simple, yet powerful, lessons I learned from a great-grandma’s trip down a park slide.
I was at the playground the other morning with my daughter for our usual outing. While there, I noticed a family with 4 generations there to visit. A young child with his parents, his grandparents, and his great-grandma. I laughed as the exhausted parents took a backseat to play, grateful that grandma and grandpa took over playing and engaging with with the child. I can relate all too well.
The playground structure is a favorite in the town I live in for the size of its slides. My kids call it “the big slide park” for obvious reasons. We’ve yet to find a slide taller than this one. It’s a long trek of stairs up to the top, and a very fast ride to the bottom. So when I saw this child’s grandma repeatedly climbing to the top and going down the slide with him, I was impressed. I loved seeing that they were still so active.
But then my jaw dropped.
As I was near the top playing with my own daughter, I saw the great-grandma trekking up the stairs. By the time she got to me, she was already near the top, with the plan of taking her own ride down the tallest slide. I gave her a big smile and said, “Look at you climbing all the way to the top!” She smiled and commented that she wanted to give the big slide a try herself. Her daughter (the grandma) followed close behind, and when I mentioned to her how awesome it was to see her climbing all the way to the top, she mentioned she was 84.
The great-grandmother made it to the top and now sat at the opening of the tallest slide. She sat for a moment a little hesitant if this was the wisest choice. She took the recommendation of her kids and went to the next tallest slide. This tube slide was still very tall and twisty. Certainly not anything you’d see an 84 year-old great-grandma go down. This time around, though, she didn’t have any hesitation. Her loved ones waited at the bottom for her as parents do for their small children. When she finished, she stood up, pulled the waistband of her pants up, and with a strong confident smile said to her family, “I am one tough cookie!” I laughed, thinking to myself, you most certainly are!
Unbeknownst to her, this great-grandmother blessed me so much that morning at the park. She taught me a few powerful lessons with her trip down the slide.
1. Never let age limit you.
How many times do we not pursue a goal or dream because we think we are too young or too old? We seem to make the window of opportunity so small to go out and live to our potential. This great-grandmother taught me that we are never too old to go out and do something we want to do.
2. Sometimes we have to adjust our plans, and that’s okay.
This great-grandmother had her original sights set on the highest slide. But after following her own instincts, she adjusted. Did she fail because she didn’t do what she originally intended? I don’t think so! She still went down a mighty high slide like she wanted. Once she took action, she realized some adjustments needed to be made. Rarely do our plans ever go as planned. Being flexible and able to adapt in order to reach your desired outcome is necessary on the road to reaching your goals and potential.
3. Believe in yourself.
Remember her words when she finished? “I’m one tough cookie!” I think she believed that about herself before she ever took that ride down the slide, and her trip down just confirmed what she already knew about herself. She was expressing what was already on the inside. We need to look for and believe in the good things about ourselves to reach our true potential.
4. Take care of yourself today for a strong and healthy tomorrow.
She had to be in great physical shape to make that stair climb. This 84 year-old woman needed no assistance climbing the stairs, getting into the tunnel slide, or getting out of the tunnel slide. Her commitment to her physical well-being all this time allowed her to accomplish this wonderful feat. She showed me that age doesn’t mean physical decline. Sure, she may be slower, but she is certainly still able. I want to be 84 and going down the slide with my great-grandchildren one day, but it will mean taking care of my body today.
I’m so grateful for that day at the park and witnessing that great-grandmother’s trip down the slide. May you, too, be reminded that whatever is on your heart to do, you most certainly are capable of achieving it.