8 Life Lessons I Learned From My Grandfather
My grandfather was born July 4, 1890 into a Brethren family (similar to an Amish or Mennonite community). He grew up on a farm learning the value of hard work but was also encouraged to develop his mind. As a young man, he graduated from college (a rarity back then) and further broke with family tradition by enlisting to fight in WWI. He was all of 5’1” but with a personality of someone at least a foot taller. Already 70 when I was born, he and my grandmother were important parts of my life growing up. He spent many hours talking with me and through him, I learned many important life lessons.
- Live below your means. Between 1928 and 1930, my grandfather lost his wife to tuberculosis, lost his job, his investments, his house, and had to give up custody of his two children to family while he stood in bread lines. He rebuilt his life, but he was frugal and financially careful the rest of his life. He believed in living comfortably but was never extravagant or frivolous with his money.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In addition to financial choices, he also encouraged me to study a variety of subjects in school and pursue other interests as well. You never know what skills or information might be useful later in life.
- There are some things more valuable than gold. He stressed the value of family, God, and country. He once told me that while he wasn’t leaving me land or money, he had given me the great gift of having been born an American – a treasure millions from around the world have risked everything to achieve.
- Be charitable. Even if you’re working hard to make ends meet, there’s always someone else even worse off. Find opportunities to share your time and show compassion to those in need. Give without expecting a return or even a thanks. Give because it’s the right thing to do.
- Do more with less. Coupled with my grandfather’s lessons in frugality, I learned as I grew up up about the concept of “reuse, recycle, repurpose”. Years later, the military hammered the concept home further, encouraging us to find ways to get even more things done with reduced budgets and less manpower.
- Lead by example. If you want to build loyalty, people must trust you to be honest and committed. Too many wanna-be leaders or “influencers” ascribe to the “do as I say, not as I do” philosophy and wonder why others don’t follow them for long.
- Quality over quantity. This is true of everything from friends to fashion. One or two close friends that you can trust with your life are worth far more than the 1000 Facebook “friends” that could really care less about you. And trust me, a pair of high quality hiking boots may cost more but will outlast a dozen cheap pairs of shoes.
- The mind is the ultimate weapon. My grandfather saw the Wright Brothers fly their early aircraft and later watched man walk on the moon. He continued to listen, read and learn throughout his long life. He stressed to me that others may be stronger or wealthier, but you can succeed if you remain mentally alert and open to learning no matter your age or situation. Paired with a self-sufficient mindset and positive attitude, you can handle unexpected challenges and come out on top. And one note: a diploma, license, or certification isn’t a requirement for success, but they do show that you have developed knowledge and skills that enable you to bring value to the table. No matter what you choose to do, the ability to learn and adapt is always crucial.
I lost my grandfather more than 40 years ago but the lessons he taught me continue to guide me and are ones I have tried to pass down to my family and close friends. I’ve sometimes wondered what he would think about our world and country as it is today, but the lessons and values he conveyed remain as important and timeless now as they were a century ago. And because of that, he’s still alive and whispering in my ear as I go through life.
Thanks, Grandpa.
In loving memory of Lester D. Bowser, 1890 – 1984.