![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/shutterstock_1899764_grandparent-bridge_small2.jpg?resize=300%2C200\" "\\"shutterstock_1899764_grandparent-bridge_small2\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nBut, I thought it\u00a0sounded way\u00a0more fun to give\u00a0myself some advice that I can actually use.\u00a0 So, here goes my letter to my 80-year-old self.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 When you go to Mass and a sweet family of five sits in front of you, remember how hard it was to just make it out the door and to Mass on time.\u00a0 The kids are doing to drop the hymnal, they’re going to whine, they’re going to need to use the restroom.\u00a0 Just smile and be thankful they came.\u00a0 You were once in their shoes.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 If you can’t drive the speed limit, call a buddy who can.\u00a0 It’s dangerous to be on the road when you can’t see as good as you once were able.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Tell your grandkids stories about life when you were a kid.\u00a0 The older they get, the more they appreciate them.\u00a0 Trust me.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 As much as you want to give advice to a newly pregnant mom, or a busy mother with multiple children, hold your tongue.\u00a0 Instead, give them your biggest smile and say, “Motherhood is awesome.\u00a0 You have a beautiful family.”\u00a0 That will make their day.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 Go to the youth Mass every once in a while.\u00a0 It’s an awesome reminder of our church’s present and future.\u00a0 Praise and worship music won’t kill you, it might just make you dance in your seat a little.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Don’t just volunteer for the predictable parish ministries for older people, mix it up a little by spending some time at Vacation Bible School or teaching religious education.\u00a0 Your perspective is valuable.<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 Give your children and grandchildren a gift that has special meaning to you, rather than holding out and giving it to them after you pass away.\u00a0 For your college graduation, your grandmother gave you her class ring that your grandfather melted and molded into a fine necklace.\u00a0 She was able to see you enjoy it – what a treasure.<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0 Tell your grandchildren stories about their parents, they will giggle for hours.<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0 Even though you’re tired, stay up the extra hour and play a game with your grandchildren.\u00a0 You won’t regret it and you’ll still kick their tails.\u00a0 Experience does count for something.<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 Don’t forget that even though you move slower, go to bed earlier and can’t hear as well, your contribution to this world is great.\u00a0 You are loved and appreciated, even though the people who love you most sometimes forget to tell you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I’ve been reading several blog posts about the fancy book full of celebrity advice to themselves.\u00a0 Blog authors\u00a0all around have been posting similar letters to themselves.\u00a0 I’m sure there are plenty of bits of advice I could give my 16-year-old self, like “don’t try and sneak back into your house after curfew, your mom will… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,90],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6368","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-blog","7":"category-faith-blog","8":"entry","9":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20828,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/08\/review-the-screwtape-letters\/","url_meta":{"origin":6368,"position":0},"title":"The Gradual Road to Hell (Review: “The Screwtape Letters”)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"August 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I have finally found some paranormal romance that I like! Well, that's not entirely true. This week's book is about the paranormal and does contain romance, though. I will concede only one thing to Twilight and its successors in the paranormal romance genre, and I will admit to two: they're\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/3559017612_3a55bba9f2-300x229.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":114782,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/05\/advice-for-graduating-high-school-students\/","url_meta":{"origin":6368,"position":1},"title":"Advice for Graduating High School Students","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"May 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the missions God is currently calling me to serve is working with graduating high school youths, and it has been an incredible blessing for me to closely journey with inspiring teens. 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