“The best things in life aren’t things.” – Art Buchwald
My grandmother was one of nine children living in a tiny, three bedroom apartment.
Few things were truly “yours” in my grandmothers household growing up. You often shared a bed with one ore two of your sisters, not to mention clothes, toys, books and anything else which could be handed down to the next oldest child.
When I used to listen to my grandmother talk about growing up, while there was no denying it was hard, the sense of family and security she felt for the people living in that tiny apartment was something few of us will ever understand.
As cliche as it sounds, my grandmother would sometimes tell me, “We didn’t have much, but we had each other and that was plenty.”
So many of us base our successes in life on “things”. When you think about it what do these things really represent beyond tangible items bringing short-lived gratification.
But if your life is void of people you experience a mutual love, respect and appreciation for, all those “things” will still leave you empty at the end of the day.
If there is but one lesson my grandmother taught me it’s to make time for the people and relationships we have in life for they truly are life’s greatest successes.
Sarah Ban Breathnach once remarked, “All we have is all we need. All we need is the awareness of how blessed we really are.”