This Is Your Reminder To Find Gratitude In The Little Moments

“So, 96… that’s huge,” I said to her as I propped my legs up on her walker, using it as a footstool.

She leaned back in her blue recliner, the one that every family member fights to sit in because it’s that comfortable. Grammy had on her black and white flannel shirt; when complimenting it, she made a point in saying, “Well, you know, your aunt got this for me!” She’s always giving credit where credit is due.

“Yeah, 96,” she said, slightly laughing. “Sometimes I can’t even believe it.”

“In all of your 96 years of living, do you have a favorite memory?” I asked her.

I figured she would take some time to think about my question. I mean, how can one possibly pinpoint their favorite memory throughout their 96 years of living within seconds? When she did answer it, I thought it would have something to do with walking down the aisle and locking eyes with my grandpa (her husband). Or maybe it would have something to do with holding one of her children for the first time.

But to my surprise, she answered immediately and said, “Why yes, I do have a favorite memory. And it has to do with a pig.”

“Hmm.. a pig,” I thought to myself. “This will be good.”

“Me and your grandfather lived on a farm and we had a pig named Josephine,” she explained. “She HATED me, but she loved Pop. One day I walked into the pigpen and she screamed her head off. She squealed as loud as she could, she wouldn’t let me feed her, she wouldn’t even let me touch her! So Pop went up and put his hand through the pen, rubbing Josephine’s snout and behind her ears and she was just in complete ecstasy. She was immediately at ease. And that’s why I loved your grandfather, because he had that effect on not only pigs but people. He was gentle and kind and I loved watching him in action like that. Pop had been through so much; he had lived through the war and he was satisfied to just live a simple life on a farm.”

She took a pause. “Life was quieter back then.”

Throughout my Grandma’s 96 years of life, her favorite memory was something as simple as watching her beloved husband calm down a pig. It wasn’t grand. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t something as big as moving to a new city or starting your dream job. It was a small moment that ended up becoming her favorite.

Let this be a reminder to find gratitude in the little moments – 96 years later, it may turn out to be your favorite.