Posted: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 9:21 am | Updated: 2:19 pm, Wed Aug 24, 2016.
Lilly Grace, our granddaughter, came to visit last week and as usual, after she leaves, her presence is still felt throughout our home. I call it the essence of Lilly G. After we say good-bye I am always so sad for a few hours because everywhere I look I see so many things that remind me of her.
There were puffs in my car, baby dolls in the kitchen chairs, crayons in my mop bucket, toys in the bathtub, and of course dirty diapers in the trash (not really the essence I am talking about). Her infectious laugh is precious and the things she says leave us all in stitches. Her absence reminds me of her presence if that makes sense.
The house is quiet again and things have returned back to normal. All of our children are grown and out of the nest, so the house is quieter than it used to be, except when Lilly G is here.
I miss little Lilly G and the vibrancy of her presence! In this quiet moment I started to wonder, what will Lilly G remember about her Lolly and Pops when we leave her house or when are no longer here on this Earth? What essence will we leave behind?
What a great question for us all. What do you want to linger behind after you leave, and how does wellness play into this whole scenario? If you want to have a good quality of life and enjoy all the moments with your children and grandchildren, some intentional lifestyle changes must take place.
As I have mentioned many times, it is extremely important to have a “why” in mind when you want to change a behavior. For example, if you want to change an unhealthy behavior and replace it with a healthier one, your chances of succeeding long term are much better if you establish why you want to change the behavior. Behaviors are habits that have been formed over a period of time, and can be extremely hard to change.
My “why” to maintain a healthy lifestyle is definitely to combat the side effects of a sedentary lifestyle, which will limit me as I age. I want to be the Lolly (Grandmother) that can swim, bike, hike, play outside and keep up with my grandchildren. I also desire to retire healthy so Mike and I can enjoy traveling, hiking, biking and being active together. All of this takes some intentional lifestyle changes. Of course, the essence you may want to leave behind has other dimensions other than just an active lifestyle. Do your children and grandchildren know how you feel about your faith, social issues, places and things you are passionate about? Have you shared with them the lessons you have learned in life through tears of pain as well as tears of joy? You may be surprised how much influence both positive and negative you are having on the generations behind you. They may not agree with everything, and that is okay, but leave your legacy and let your essence linger for all those that come after you. They are indeed watching you live out what is important to you. You do have a profound influence on their behaviors.
Think about your “why” for changing any behavior. Take the time to write it down, display in a prominent place, and remind yourself each day about the essence you want to linger after you are gone.
See you in the gym!
