LESSONS for LIVING from the WISEST AMERICANS
I wasn’t surprised that the elders often profess a very deep faith in God. But I was struck by the degree to which they also stressed tolerance for the beliefs of others. Over and over, they reported that a spiritual life is important, but the form it takes is up to you. Read More
What is one major key to success at work? The elders in the Legacy Project have a strong recommendation: Say “yes” when opportunities come up. When I think of this lesson for living, one particular elder comes to mind: Father John Wilson. The benefits “saying yes” at work are crucial for younger people in the early Read More
Gladys, 89, was a truly remarkable woman, serving as one of the first commissioned officers in the Navy in World War II. She offered her lessons in a letter to the Legacy Project, and we were saddened to learn that she passed away less than a year later. Over her long life, she developed a philosophy of life, one that bears reading and re-reading. Read More
Some of the Legacy Project elders framed their lessons for living in terms of their religious faith. Sr. Monica has been a nun for 60 years and still works serving the inner city poor. For her, faith goes hand in hand with a commitment to serving the common good. Read More
It’s never easy when we lose one of the Legacy Project respondents, but we can still profit from their lessons. Sr. Maria grew up in a close-knit Polish neighborhood, not speaking English until she entered school. Her life history and life as a teaching sister taught her valuable lessons. Read More
Juliet, 88, suggests that people pursue a spiritual dimension to life before rejecting it. Read More
Marie, 92, was married for nearly 70 years. Over the years, she and her husband provided a home to foster children, and her work as a teacher allowed her to help many students. Raised a Methodist, she has moved away formal religious participation. But she also recommended spiritual beliefs that help make sense of the universe. Read More
The elders came from all the world’s major religions, but many had one thing in common: They recommend faith of some kind as an invaluable tool for getting through rough patches in life. Cecile, 76, shares how she learned this lesson. Read More
