The Things I Hope For My Grandchildren

In 2015, I began writing short stories as a legacy project. I wanted my grandchildren - and ultimately their children - to know me through the experiences I’d written in these stories and learn things that influenced my life. And I wanted them to truly know their roots and how the past has influenced who they are today.

But I also wanted them to know the things that I hope for their future. Here are five things that I want to speak directly to them:

Be at peace. You will experience days when things are just not going your way. Sometimes, no matter how well you have planned, adversity will raise its’ ugly head. My advice to you is to be at peace. Being at peace doesn’t mean you change your desires and / or beliefs, it simply means having control over your emotions. By being at peace, you are to better able to resolve the problem with clarity of thought and not just emotion-driven actions.

Be self-sufficient. Being self-sufficient means you aren’t dependent on others be it emotionally or financially. You, deep down inside to your core, know you are capable of providing for yourself and that knowledge means you never have to compromise your values.

Be kind. As Plato once said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” As you walk this earth, please know that you influence the life of every person you meet. Your kindness could very well make a huge difference in their life, as well as grant you a truly wonderful feeling! Kindness is contagious and makes a bigger impact on the world and your own well-being more than you can imagine.

Be your own person. Always remember, YOU are a beautiful child of God and are wonderfully unique! There is no one who is just like you, so don’t waste your time comparing yourself to anyone else. Don’t look to others for your worthiness. When you look in the mirror, I really hope you really like who you see. But, if for any reason you want to see something different in your life, know that YOU have the power to change and make it so!

To always do your best. Whatever it is that you decide to do, always give it your very best effort. Throw yourself into it with all of your heart, soul, and might. Abundance can be yours once you give it your all.

Billy Graham once said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” My hope for myself is that my grandchildren see something of me in this quote. That would have made it all worthwhile.