Thanks to the many readers who have submitted their own wise elders’; lessons for living to this site. The holidays are a great time to ask for their legacy of wisdom: Why not interview one of your favorite older relatives and submit his or her most important lesson over the July 4 holiday?
Here are a few of our readers’ contributions:.
From Kim:
My lesson can from my Grandmother –
I was calling to tell her about my new boyfriend and that I would introduce her to him on her next visit. I also wanted to tell her that my parents did not agree with my choice and that they were not willing to meet him. The phone grew quite for a minute and then she asked one simple but most important question, “Do you love him?” At that point the tears started to flow and she told me that through out her life she has learned many lessons and this was most important, “if you love him, you stand by him and anyone that doesn’t agree with your decision will have to live with it.” Then she asked me which of my parents doesn’t agree with me. I told her it was both of my parents, and then she said she was going to call my Mom and remind her of the importance of love and give her a piece of her mind. I hung up with a heavy burden lifted and a true reminder of what is really important in life.
From Eileen:
My Dad was the elder that taught my most valuable life lesson.
Daddy forever stressed that having been born a woman ought to never stand in my way of fulfilling my dreams as I journeyed life’s path alone. Because of his lifelong encouragement, I have let nothing stop me from following my heart’s desire; whether it was pedaling my bicycle 100+ miles, figuring out how to take trips across the USA, or making arrangements to attend Auctioneer College.
And from George:
As a young boy growing up in the heart of the Great Depression our family had very limited income and hardly any material possessions. I wore hand-me- down clothes that didn’t fit and had no toys like the other kids. I was being raised by a wonderful grandma whose simple advice to a little boy has stuck with me my entire 68 years.
Knowing I felt out of place and embarassed, grandma told me “keep your head up, a smile on your face, and your shoes shined, and you will be all right”. It wasn’t how I looked, or the toys I didn’t have. It was about having a positive attitude.
Thanks to these three, and many others, for their wonderful gifts of elder wisdom!
“When you make a decision focused on the pursuit of happiness and pleasure.”
Every day we are in a position to make decisions. Whether you choose what to eat for breakfast or how to change our way of life, every choice we make has as its goal the pleasure or happiness.
We choose the pleasure when we decide to get up at the last minute. We choose the pleasure when we indulge in unhealthy habits. We choose the pleasure when we continue to navigate through Facebook and Youtube instead of completing our work. Pleasure when we choose our goals procrastinate.
I’m not a masochist, do not worry, in fact I think every day should have its share of small pleasures, but look so obsessive pleasure can only have negative consequences (see alcohol, drugs, etc..). The pleasure is ephemeral and will accumulate more and more they get tired easily.
If you are looking for true happiness in the situation you find yourself to test your self-discipline and refrain from a momentary pleasure. Are you willing to do for your dreams?
The next time you try to make a decision to concentrate on the search for happiness and renunciation of the pleasure for once.
1. Be inventive: open new thinking doors each week of your life.
2. Boredom takes people under. Train yourself to look beyond yesterday.
3. Continue to be aware of your current health status and insist on improvements.
4. Consider your faith and make your intentions grow in this area.
5. Be an inspiration to others. It is not what you take, but what you give.
6. Spend time with youth and offer inspiration and hope.
7. Be an example to your neighbors and friends and mean it.
8. Eat correctly, exercise best you can and get your sleep each night.
9. Make it a point to keep your home and lawn as neat as possible.
10. Keep up with your medical appointments and think only the best for all.