Pass It On

The talents you have should not be lost or forgotten. This can only be done if you pass it on. In other words, teach the next generation. My grandmother started making quilts for her granddaughters but didn’t finish before she passed away. None of us learned to quilt. How sad.
Photography has always been important to our family and many of my cousins have continued the tradition of taking pictures at all family reunions. My eight year old nephew is also very good at taking pictures during special occasions.
My father and mother danced together most of their adult lives. I remember the day Daddy said to his two beloved daughters, “I’m going to teach you girls how to dance. We’re not having any wallflowers in this house.”
I quickly learned to follow his smooth dance steps. My younger sister was still young enough to stand on his feet while he taught her to social dance, waltz and cha cha. My sister and I, in turn, taught our children to dance. Our grandchildren dance and, of course, added the hustle and a few other modern dances to their repertoire.
I know how to crochet simple items and have made afghans for my granddaughter and her doll. I still can’t believe my very active granddaughter, at the age of three and a half, would sit still for an hour at a time to watch me crochet. At five, she still does. She has shown an interest in doing simple crafts and I am teaching her how.
If you love music, pass that appreciation on. Expose the younger generation to various types of music such as jazz, country, classical as well as music from other cultures. Take the children to concerts, plays, zoos, museums and libraries. Help them learn to appreciate the arts. Remember, you are retired. You have some time to pass on a legacy of culture to the younger generation. And please allow them to show you what they know.