I had recently met up with a man who had known my grandfather well, even though he is a lot younger. He talked about how tough and resilient he was. He was not afraid to grab poisonous snakes by their tail and swing them like a whip, prepared to take on any kind of back-breaking job available and willing to eat less to make sure his family were eating enough.
We all think about how tough life is for us, and in many cases, it still is, but in many different ways compared to the past. My grandfather lived through the Great Depression and the Second world war so it is safe to say that he endured a lot of hardship. Listening to his stories of resilience and determination to build a great life inspires me. They help me to understand that I can also draw on my inner strength to overcome any hardships that I encounter.
I only knew him as an old man who had a great dry sense of humour and an ability to share so much of his love for his family with a simple smile. He was not an overly positive thinker, he knew that life was tough and still is, but chose to focus on the good things in life.
Life is so much more complicated now compared to the times of the Great Depression, but in many ways, life is much more convenient. People were much more into talking face to face as they did not have social networks or even an affordable telephone service. Food was scarce, but when it was available it was much more healthy compared to the fast food restaurants of today.
I think that anyone can look back on their family history and draw inspiration from generations in the past. If it is not direct family, it could be the family of a friend. It could help you to motivate yourself, and even motivate others. One thing for sure is, it will give you a deep sense of gratitude for what that generation did for us and realize how lucky we are to live in the present.
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