GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 25

legacy

How do you surround yourself with
friends across the lifespan?

What kind of friend are you?

Years ago when I was director of Camp Chi, a residential camp for youth in the Midwest, during the
interview process for counselors I always asked, "Tell
me about your closest friend." That would show me
how the person related to a group of friends and
their strengths in a relationship. Certainly, knowing
how they would handle scapegoating and bullying
in their circle of friends was a great indicator for how
they would deal with a cabin full of campers as a
counselor.
25 GRAND

FALL 2020

It starts with you, with a commitment and a passion to enrich your own life. Curiosity is so important.
It's easy as you age to assume you know everything.
You've seen it all. And you can get away with that-with so much agism, that's what society expects from
you-to no longer be creative or contribute. Are you
willing to risk sharing what you think?
"What book are you reading now" is an easy way
to know if people are readers and are open to new
ideas (I'm reading Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard
Friedman). What new theories have you learned lately?
Are you an activist about something? You can learn
almost anything on YouTube and Podcasts. Just ask
Google.
Age is not a factor; it's about connecting around
ideas and an openness to enriching someone else's
life and allowing them to enrich yours. You can choose
to grow and learn starting right now. Let the adventure begin.

Are you willing to risk sharing
what you think?

Some say it's hard to make friends.
More accurately there's a risk of vulnerability in being the first to reach out. But
to have friends you have to be a friend.
There's always someone who needs a
friend. I wanted counselors to be the ones
who would be a friend to someone in need.

Jerry Witkovsky, Author of The
Grandest Love and a longtime social work professional,
grandparenting activist, and
passionate grandpa, author Jerry
Witkovsky offers fresh approaches
to help grandparents enter their
grandchild's world, to leave values, not just valuables
and create a living legacy. Jerry shares more about
the Grandparent-Grandchild Connection School
Program and encourages grandparents to unleash
their creativity and unique gifts to transform their
family at www.grandparentsunleashed.com.

https://www.amazon.com/GRANDEST-LOVE-Inspiring-Grandparent-Grandchild-Connection-ebook/dp/B00GXAYNCM?ie=UTF8&btkr=1&ref_=dp-kindle-redirect https://www.amazon.com/GRANDEST-LOVE-Inspiring-Grandparent-Grandchild-Connection-ebook/dp/B00GXAYNCM?ie=UTF8&btkr=1&ref_=dp-kindle-redirect https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/153715253X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grandmagazi0d-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=153715253X&linkId=d197415a0180ad369bda8297122d3661 https://www.grandparentsunleashed.com/ https://www.grandparentsunleashed.com/ http://www.grandparentsunleashed.com

GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020