When we are surrounded by mass media which hammers us with fake news, half truths, scandal, downright lies and simply too much of everything, it’s time to chill out.  My granddaughter made note of that the other day as we were out and about. In her fourteen year old wisdom, she stated that we should

stop worrying, being stubborn, cranky and chill.

I’m not quite sure where it came from.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that as we age, we tend to grow grumpy with time.  We feel we’re entitled to smooth sailing after all the years of storms we’ve faced over time. Maybe it has to do with the stress of having to still work to make ends meet.  It might even have to do with aging bodies that ache and tire out so much more quickly.

I remember my own grandparents and some of the difficulties they faced and how they seemed to muddle through, even during times of great adversity.  My maternal grandparents attended funerals for five of their eight children. My paternal grandmother was left by her husband to raise four children on her own.  Still they managed to survive with a fair amount of hope.

Our troubles have been minor in comparison to them, but somehow we feel short changed as we age.  We think the world owes us something, simply for living as long as we have.  We tend to forget that we still have things to offer this world in spite of our aging shells.

So for the time being, I have decided to take my granddaughter’s advice and chill.  I refuse to let the climate of politics and hatred overtake me.  I will not succumb to the media and all its hype. I will do my best to look at the bright side of life and forget about name calling, bullying behavior and the sticks and stones that accompany daily living.  I have no intention of becoming a grumpy old woman.