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Paul Harvey on Appreciating Life Happiness is not the quite the same as pleasure. Happiness usually involves an element of struggle, or endurance, and ultimately some accomplishment. Paul Harvey addressed this theme in a letter to his grandkids. "We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes. I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your own bed, mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are 16. It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger sibling. I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma or Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. These things I wish for you-tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life." |
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