A Special Letter from 1964

I found a few treasures last year when my wife and I were cleaning out our house of 36 years for a move to a senior condo (to be nearer our son and grandchild and simplify our lives). One discovery was a 1964 letter from my Uncle Phil, written on the sad occasion of the death of my father (his brother). My dad was 38 years old (and I was 14) when he was killed in an auto accident on a business trip. I was touched re-reading this letter from my beloved uncle:  

“I know you’ll take each day as it comes along remembering the qualities that made your Dad the wonderful person he was -- honesty, integrity, fun loving, courageous, friendly, religious, forgiving and loving. Take these qualities as goals for your life – these are the really important aspects of life. With these qualities in your life, the failures each of us encounter during life are really unimportant. . . . Each of us is good at certain things – poor at others – use the qualities and abilities you have for good – forgetting any failures in your life. Keep a smile on your face, Doug, it’ll do you and everyone around you a world of good.”

Reading this letter, I appreciate this shared wisdom, but also something even more important. The way Uncle Phil reached out to me in such a personal, thoughtful way was so valuable. In today’s fast-paced and high-tech times, taking the time to communicate that you care – whether by letter or via a thoughtful conversation –  seems almost like a lost art. Emails, and especially texts, are a poor substitute.  

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact!