Sweetmama Says

Image Courtesy: Amelia Sturkie

My grandmother goes by the name of Sweetmama. She wears red cat eye glasses, smells of  sweet cigars and rocks a salt and pepper pixie cut. At 81, she moved into an eclectic new apartment, decked with bright green walls and pink ceilings. She’s the marvel I’ve always dreamed to be and the person I enjoy being around the most. She’s an absolute contradiction of badass and wholesome. 

Sweetmama is an avid advice giver, incessantly prepared with a slew of catchphrases— she's always got a “bless her heart” in her back pocket. Her youthful exuberance and fierce curiosity brings about a stubborn minded, brute force in any dinner party conversation. Constantly questioning politics, social norms, current events and even universal enigmas, she’s the type of person you can invest in.  

I entered my 20’s last July, slumping into sophomore year— the endless comparisons, competitions, and dreadful need for validation can seem debilitating at times. The highs are exalting, and lows exhausting. College can fill a person with constant doubt. Am I on the right path? Will I succeed? It’s easy to seep into these slow spirals of incessant worry when you're 20, aimless, and still figuring life out. 

I often wish for a blueprint, or perhaps even a bright green arrow with flashing lights telling me which path to take. This perpetual need for direction intensifies with every bad grade or morally wrong decision. It’s hard to remember that these years are meant to be the most unbound, memorable, and freest ones yet. The bigger picture often seems to get lost in all the noise. 

But then I think of Sweetmama. At 81, she’s already done it all; faced immense obstacles, loved, lived and mourned, and somehow still she enters the house with an ever-buoyant stride. Our grandparents often sit in our minds as the people we've only known for the past 20 or so years. We only picture them with their white hair, big glasses and pure hearts often forgetting that they themselves were also once aimless and 20-year-old.

Image Courtesy: Amelia Sturkie

A grandparent’s ability to snap a miniscule problem into perspective is earth-shattering; it’s like panning out on a wide shot view. Sometimes a quick-witted, “You think you have it hard?”, is all we need. Upon hearing those six words, I suddenly resurface. 

A grandparent’s advice is like jumping into a plunge pool; it’s quick, harsh and at times frigid, but once you take it, it’s always good for you. 

So today I’d like to offer up some advice from your community grandmother: Sweetmama.

“Get the best education possible, take advantage of all the many avenues of exploration that are open. Travel and major in an area that is not only of great interest, but also will give the opportunity to explore other venues as you grow older and mature.” 

“Rules to live by that I've tried to follow: Be my own person, as it took me a while to grow into myself, and be open to the change that will occur within ourselves as time progresses and we build and develop new life skills.”

“When one is stuck with an obstacle that must be dealt with, they must make a decision on how to move forward. And when that decision is made and put into play, it forms a story that sticks with us throughout the remainder of our lives. For me, the plan turned into a marvelous adventure that I could never have imagined years earlier.”

“Go...explore...take advantage of positive situations that are presented to you...don't limit yourself—be open to new ideas. And very important: do limit the amount of time you spend on your phone and social media.”

Image Courtesy: Amelia Sturkie

Sometimes all we need is grandma’s advice and a little perspective; or in my case, whatever Sweetmama has to say. 

Strike Out, 

Amelia Sturkie 

Editor: Anna Albright

Athens