Timely Thoughts from Grandma

This was originally shared in my newsletter that I send out bi-weekly on what I'm learning and writing about in the topics of mindfulness, relationships, and technology.

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Being back at home has given me an opportunity to spend more time with family. Part of this family time has included speaking with my grandma in India. In our house, we call our grandma "Nani".

Speaking to Nani has been wonderful. She’s curious, joyful, and concerned with how her grandchildren are doing. Especially me, since I’m the oldest and her favourite (to my sister's great disdain). In a recent call, Nani asked me if I remember the story about a bird named Titu. I asked her to tell me again.

Trying to get her two-year-old grandson to stop using his bottle, Nani told me that Titu, a bird who was perched on our balcony, needed it for herself. Why did Titu need the bottle you ask? Because she was having a baby, and that baby needed it more than I did, a grown-ass two-year-old. I agreed. My mom still comments on how easy it was to get rid of that bottle and upgrade to a grown-up cup. I haven't looked back since.

Hearing stories like this spurred my curiosity about Nani’s life. What other stories did she have to share? What was her life like? What was she up to when she was 24? 

Nani at 24

My Nani married my Nana when she was 24. The same year my Nana, who worked for the Indian Government, was posted to The Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal a few hundred kilometres off of the coast of Myanmar. These roughly 300 islands are known for their white-sand beaches and tropical rain forests. 

Nana’s role was to establish a formalized industry around local goods the island exported, such as bamboo, leather, coconut oil, and garments. They lived on the beach in a house held in the air by long wooden beams 20 metres from the ocean. On Andaman, life was quite nice. 

They ate lentils and potatoes that they made on their kerosine stove. They bathed themselves using buckets of water my Nani would fetch from a well. They spent their time exploring the island and enjoying the view. They walked the same trails, saw the same people and found contentment in the simple things. 

“Life was simple, yet despite its simplicity, life was wonderful.” 

Nani's stories could not have come at a better time. I’ve been feeling quite restless in isolation. The days are blending together, I'm doing the same things every day, and without the ability to work from home, I’d be losing my shit. 

Although, I’m realizing now that my own life, which has been made quite routine, is not too different from Nani’s life at 24. She read, worked a bit, chatted with friends, and went for nice walks. She had a great time, why can’t I?

During our daily routines, it’s difficult to find these simple moments to appreciate. Paying attention to them start to shape our perspective of our days, bringing delight into our lives that can be grounding when everything around you seems confusing.

Pause for a second and take in the pleasurable moments around you. Enjoy the view, read that book, call that friend, and maybe even listen to the birds chirping outside your window. They seem to be chirping more these days, don’t they? 

Maybe it’s Titu dropping by to let you know things will be okay.