I don’t know about you, but my grandparents had a profound impact on my life. Some things you should know about me: my grandparents raised me so I call them Mama and Daddy. I’m an only grandchild, but in many ways, I was their fourth child. Like any child, the values that are important to me today are things that started with them. Here are just a few that I think will shape this blog going forward:

• Serve others. Both of my grandparents made doing things for others a key focus of their lives. Mama was a teacher for over 40 years, which naturally lends itself to service, but she also mentors others, has chaired her fair share of committees, and just listens whenever needed. Daddy, on the other hand, while never an effusive man, not only helped his family in whatever way he could, he also delivered Meals on Wheels for over a decade.
• Appreciate differences. Both of my grandparents appreciated people as individuals. You might not agree with everyone you meet, but all people are valuable. We were encouraged to embrace and befriend people unlike ourselves.
• Live up to your potential. Everyone is born with natural gifts. I was always expected to improve at the things I was good at, but to also work at things that I wasn’t good at. Along with that, I was expected to honor my commitments by not quitting anything midway. So if I took lessons or played on a team, I had to finish the season or the year before trying something new.
• Be curious. Both of my grandparents were curious. They were both readers, although my grandfather sometimes preferred crossword puzzles and other brain teasers. After he retired, he actually did a crossword puzzle every morning over breakfast for around 20 years. Television was not a centerpiece in our household. If we were indoors, we were reading. Otherwise, we were outside working in the yard or spending family vacations camping across the country. Travel was really important to both of my grandparents, mostly because it is a natural way to learn about others.
• Have a well-informed opinion. I guess because the art of learning was emphasized so much, I was expected to have an informed opinion in discussions. My grandmother, particularly, emphasized the scientific method in parenting. So instead of blindly agreeing with her every decision, I was encouraged to have a reasoned argument of my own.

These are just a few of the values that have made me who I am. How do you think your grandparents have shaped who you are? Share your stories in the comments below.