Thriving and Finding Happiness – A Mother’s Letter by Linda Juergens

I continue to learn from my parenting and life experiences every year, in hopes of pocketing my wisdom to share with my own children.

Today’s guest—Linda Juergens—is doing just that on Mothers Central. She is offering her collected knowledge to her own grandchildren.

Linda recently retired after working 26 years for the NAMC (including 13 years spent as our organization’s Executive Director). However, Linda’s connection to Mothers’ Centers goes back to 1978 when her oldest child was only 9 months old. As an original member of her own Mothers’ Center Group she took on various leadership rolls including facilitation, coordination and fundraising efforts.

Though Linda is now officially retired and enjoying life with her husband of nearly 40 years, she took the time to return momentarily through the Mothers Central Blog to share a letter she wrote to her 4 grandchildren.

We are so pleased to be able to share that letter with you now.

To my grandchildren,

My most amazing memories are the days/nights each of you were born. You were so tiny and fragile and opened up a whole new experience for me as a grandma.

Since then, you have brought our family so much joy, laughter, wonder and gratitude.

As I think of all the growing you have ahead of you in the coming years, I wish I could smooth your paths but I know that’s not possible.

Over the years, I’ve read so much about what has been important to different people in thriving and finding happiness, regardless of what life throws at them. I’d like to share a bit of what I’ve learned:

1. Expect good things to happen. Prepare for bad things to happen. Make the best of whatever happens.
2. Enjoy the day-to-day pleasures of good relationships, nourishing food, physical activity, intellectual stimulation, and relaxation with your favorite interests. If you’re able to do this, you will find contentment without depending on other people or things to provide it for you.
3. Be grateful for all the people who care for you, and the day-to-day as well as the extra-ordinary things that fill the years ahead.
4. Consider any disappointments or failures not just as negative events in your life, but opportunities to learn from your mistakes, grow and move on to future successes. Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Your uniqueness (skills, talents, temperament, personality, challenges) – the whole package of who you are and who you aspire to be - are welcome in our family. We will always honor who you are and expect you to do the same for others.
6. Your attitude is one of the most important factors contributing to your happiness. With a positive and optimistic attitude, enhanced by hard work, you can accomplish anything you set out to do.
7. How people treat you is their karma. How you react is yours.
8. Learn about lots of things so you can find something you’re passionate about. Being able to work in an area you feel is a “calling” and not just a job will bring you much fulfillment and will allow you to share your special gifts for the benefit of others.
9. Spend your hard-earned money on experiences and opportunities to learn. These will sustain you over the years and help you mature. Merely acquiring more things is not a path to continued happiness or fulfillment.
10. Sometimes when you’re angry you will have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give you the right to be cruel. You are responsible for what you do, no matter how you feel.
11. No feelings are final. Sad feelings can change, and never be afraid to seek help for feelings that overwhelm you.
12. Don’t live in the past but learn from it. Prepare for the future but don’t obsess over it. Life can only be experienced in the present.
13. You are part of the universe, a living organism. Treat it kindly to preserve it for yourself and your children.

Grandpa & I believe in you and love you so much. I wish you the chance to feel this love that is so deep you will only understand it when you become a parent yourself. And most miraculously, it is a love that is not diminished and is as deep for each of you four grandchildren as it is for both of my daughters (your moms.)

Love always,
Your Nonni (aka Grandma)

Leave a Comment: Which of Linda’s suggestions above do you connect with most? Please help us give a warm welcome to this month’s Mothers Central Blog guest Linda Juergens by leaving her a comment and sharing her letter with others!

~

Are you interested in submitting a guest post letter?

We’ve been asking our members across the nation to respond to the question:
What would you tell your child in a letter?
Get more details and read other guest post letters here.

I am a staff member of the National Association of Mothers' Centers and a longtime member of the Mothers' Center of Greater Toledo in Ohio. My husband and I are busy raising 3 children ages 2-9. I have a professional background as a graphic designer in the creative and education industry. Since 2005, I have been using my professional skills by actively volunteering with the Mothers' Center of Greater Toledo in various leadership positions.

Kate Fineske

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Tagged as: Executive Director, grandchildren, grandmother, Guest Post, letter to your child, Linda Juergens, mothers group, Mothers support, NAMC