A few years back, it was all the rage to multi-task your way through life. We talked about all the things that we could do at once. It was believed that this was the way to get more done in our days. But, now the common thought is to single-task instead.
Although fads will continue to evolve in our thinking, I do agree that single-tasking is the way to go. We may still multi-task when cooking a big holiday meal or keeping up with our small children, but it’s not the best way to function in our lives.
As someone who always ran on adrenaline, multi-tasking seemed very helpful to me. I was the typical Type A personality that wanted to succeed at everything I did. It was easy to get in a tizzy and get burned out. As I got older, multi-tasking became less likely to happen. The energy level and mind fog both seemed to stop it from working. I was now single-tasking. And, sometimes even that didn’t work.
Looking back on my youth, I realized something about my grandmother. Both grandmothers were excellent role-models, but I’m focusing on my paternal grandmother. She never multi-tasked. She was a single-task person who accomplished more in a day than anyone I know.
This lady could do almost anything, and she was good at it. She lived in the country and always raised a big garden. She tended it and kept the weeds away. She harvested and canned all of the vegetables. She was an excellent seamstress and was in great demand in our area. Her house was always clean and she always looked fresh.
What I remember most is her attention to us. When we would come to visit, she stopped whatever she was doing and sat down with us to visit. She gave us her full attention and made us feel welcome. Little ones were encouraged to sit on her lap, where she would read them a story or just rock them. She always asked questions and got to know her family well.
Because she lived this way, I never saw her get in a hurry. I never saw her rush people around. She always seemed to have control of herself and enjoyed what she was doing. Although I watched her all of those years, I didn’t realize one of her great secrets until later in life.
She didn’t rush through life, but focused on one task at a time. This worked perfectly for her and it brought all of her grandchildren many wonderful memories. Even though I didn’t practice this as a young mom, I hope that I can treat my grandchildren half as well as she did.
My hope is to see the beauty in life and feel contentment in each and every task that I can complete. My goal is to make my children and grandchildren feel welcome and important when they are with me. What a great legacy that would be!
@2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman
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- Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.
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She sounds a lot like my grandma did.
I’m glad you had a wonderful grandma, too 🙂
Not multi-tasking is something I have been taught in my group but looking back my grandma did not multi-task either.
When I was a kid I didn’t realize how amazing my grandmothers were. I was lucky enough to have two beautiful, intelligent, amazing grandmothers that lived across the street from each other. I could run across the road and visit both of them in one trip to my grandparents. I learned so much from them that I am now teaching my kiddos!
You had such a blessed childhood!
I guess folks had less distractions back then but I am 100% with you — we all shouldn’t rush through life and should instead focus at one task at a time.
Great post, Lisa!
Thanks, Veronica!
What a beautiful post – and full of wisdom
This is a heartwarming, beautiful post. I only got to be with my maternal grandmother till I was 5, and emigrated to Canada. But my best memories are of her, and the things she taught me.