Growing up, I would often stay with my grandfather in the summer. During those periods, he would wake me up at four in the morning, as most elderlies do, to swim in our local YMCA pool. Imagine a seven-year-old getting shaken up in 4 a.m., just to go swim in ice-cold water. For the next nine summers, the morning routine would follow up with a drive in the pitch dark, followed up with thirty minutes of tai-chi with a dozen other random elderlies, and finally swimming in freezing water. Despite how much work it seemed, it was enjoyable.
After my grandfather passed, I continued to follow the early morning bird process but to the gym rather than a pool because I loathed swimming. Travelling in the morning seemed less exhilarating than that of when I went to the YMCA. Partly because I could not find anyone else crazy enough to go exercise with me in the morning. Despite this, I tried to make the most of my time. The people I have encountered in the fitness center were all welcoming and as usual there were several seniors there as well.
The kindness and generosity that I have encountered from the people, from both swimming and at the gym, helped motivate me to keep myself in check mentally and physically. The absence of my grandfather pointed out how much I took for granted with our time. But I am thankful to this day with the lessons he instilled in me. The time the seniors I see not wasted encourage me to make the most of my time as well and not take anything else for granted.
