In all honesty, I'm not entirely sure that I believe that each of us has our own "spirit animal." My grandma, however, did; an owl. She may not have had a beak and feathers (thank God), but her wisdom and watchful eyes encompassed everyone that she came into contact with. As a child, I remember feeling secure and serene in her presence, knowing that at the slightest sign of danger, she would swoop in and protect me. She moved quietly, almost stealthily, but she effortlessly emitted a powerful glow.

When she passed away in January of 2016, I felt that a part of myself had gone with her; I came to learn that was far from the truth. She had actually left a part of herself with me. To this day, her memory shines brightly through my actions and the man I have become. She may be gone, but the lessons she taught me will stay with me through the remainder of my life.

1. The speed limit is merely a suggestion.

2. It's entirely possible to voice your own opinion without bashing someone else's.

3. Retiring doesn't mean that you need to stop doing what you love.

4. It's better to lose honestly than to win cheating.

5. Despite what you may believe, prunes actually do work.

6. The recipe to a perfect potato salad is driving to Meijer and buying one, pre-made.

7. Be aggressive when in a first-come, first-served situation.

8. When someone genuinely offers you a gift, accept it.

9. Unrealistic dreams are perfectly fine.

10. After a certain age, you can literally sleep anywhere you want.

11. Open the car door for the woman in your life (I need to work on this).

12. Being successful is impressive, but being humble is respected.

13. Cancer sucks, but it doesn't always win.

14. Love outlasts death.

15. If you don't know the answer, swiftly redirect the question to someone else.

16. Tall or short, fat or thin, winner or loser, Grandma will always be your biggest fan.

17. If you don't quit at something you're bad at, eventually you'll be good at it; persistence is paramount to progress.

18. Black licorice really isn't all that bad; be willing to try new things.

19. Staying active is a hallmark of staying healthy, especially as you get older.

20. You can turn a complete stranger's day around, simply by being nice to them.

21. You don't need to be the loudest person in the room. Sometimes, enjoying the comfortable silence is perfectly fine.

22. Endure hardships, and learn something from them. Don't wish your life away when things get dark.

23. The key to a long and beautiful life is "a scotch at night, and an aspirin in the morning."