Grandchildren

 Below are some things that I’ve shared with my grand kids.  Please use them if they can help you.  

If you reprint them please give credit to the website GoalSettingForStudents.com 

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10 Rules About Money

How we view money has a profound impact on all facets of our life.  It determines where we live, the type of job we have, how we look at the world, and, unfortunately, how we feel about ourselves. Money has the power to do great things, but it can also destroy the mightiest empires.

Each of us has to determine what our relationship with money will be. 

You have to learn how to earn it, save it, spend it and invest it.  These can be hard lessons, but you can use a few simple rules to make your life a lot less stressful.

  •  Control your spending or it will control you
  •  Work smart for your money          
  •  With savings and investments, have your money work as hard as you do.    
  •  Minimize or eliminate high-interest debt (i.e., credit cards, rent to own, payday   loans, buy now/pay later loans, etc.).
  •  Surround yourself with people who know how to use money wisely.
  •  To earn more—learn more, do more and think more.
  •  Put at least 5% from every paycheck into a savings account. 
  •  Don’t let money determine your self-image.
  •  If your company has automatic deposit for your paycheck, use it.  
  • Remember:   It’s not how much you make.  It’s how much you keep. 

With these rules you will be able to live the type of life you want—whatever that means to you.

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This is a note I wrote to my 14 year old granddaughter

after we went camping at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

You should be very proud of what you have accomplished.  You handled a very difficult task and you did it without complaining.  Importantly, you reached within yourself to find some additional strength to get through the tough parts.  And, I believe, you found the journey was worth taking the risks.  Congratulations on a job well done!

While you are thinking about your adventure I would like to draw your attention to something you may have overlooked.  You may not have realized it, but you entered a whole new world when you reached the top of the South Rim.

Many, many people live in a world of I can’t or I won’t or I could never do that.  Unfortunately, there are a great number of people who live in this world.  Instead of doing something to change their surroundings, they make excuses, complain and blame others.

The new world you were exposed to in the Grand Canyon has relatively few people in it.  They say I can and I will.   People in this world, know that at times things will get hard, but like those two 80 yr old women we met coming out of the Canyon, they keep moving their feet toward their goal even when the going get tough.  And, they do it with a no excuses – no blame attitude.

You walked a mile into the earth and when you hiked out I could almost see you grow up.  I’m glad I was there to see the growth.  I’m very proud of you.   Congratulations again…..Love Poppie

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10 Life Lessons on a Unicycle

Ever try to ride a unicycle? Many people call it “terror on a stick” and I agree. But it is also a great teacher of some valuable life lessons.

I chose a unicycle to teach my grandchildren some valuable lessons.  

At sixty years old many of my friends thought I was out of my mind.  In truth, I thought they might be right, particularly after my first fall. Older people do not heal as quickly as they did when they were twenty, and I’m certainly no exception.

But it was important to teach my grandchildren that they can do anything they want to if they are determined and willing to put in the extra effort. Riding a unicycle is not easy at any age, but at sixty it was a real eye-opener.

What I learn about life on a unicycle:

   1.   Some of life’s lessons are painful, but keep trying.

   2.  Determination helps you overcome your fears.

   3.  You won’t go very far without balance in your life.

   4.  Breathe naturally, even when you are afraid.

   5.  Practice, practice, practice.

   6.  Don’t be concerned about what others are saying.

   7.  On a unicycle you will stand out in a crowd.

   8.  You’re as old as you think you are.

   9.  If you believe you can – –  go for it.

  10. You can do anything you make your mind up to do.

I’m not professing that everyone should start riding a unicycle.

I am suggesting that it is important to get out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Some of life’s most important lessons do not come easy.

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