Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of.
Ellen GoodmanRead
This packrat has learned that what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it's the family stories that are worth the storage.
Interpretation
Family stories and personal connections are more valuable than material possessions.
Ellen Goodman's quote emphasizes the importance of personal connections and family stories over material wealth. It suggests that what truly matters is the love we shared and the legacy we leave behind through our experiences and relationships, rather than the physical items we accumulate throughout our lives.
In practice
During a family gathering, one could share this quote to emphasize the importance of storytelling among relatives.
Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of.
The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears.
Parents remain our touchstones, fellow travelers, even after death. They are both missing and present.
What do I want to take home from my summer vacation? Time. The wonderful luxury of being at rest. The days when you shut down the mental machinery that keeps life on track and let life simply wander. The days when you stop planning, analyzing, thinking and just are. Summer is my period of grace.
My father used to say that if a man fools you once, he's a jerk. If he fools you twice, you're a jerk. Only he didn't use the word "jerk."
There's a trick to the Graceful Exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is over - and to let go. It means leaving what's over without denying its validity or its past importance in our lives.
My mother, may her soul rest in peace, shaped my personality; thanks to her, I have acquired many values, good traits and skills.
Fathers should be neither seen nor heard. That is the only proper basis for family life.
A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.
When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors.
In addition to temples, surely another holy place on earth ought to be our homes. The feelings of holiness in my home prepared me for feelings of holiness in the temple.
The word dysfunction has, I think, served its purpose and now has lost its meaning. Every family, like every person, is imperfect, after all. The idea that there is a family somewhere who functions, is an odd concept. In my youth I was running from my family to try to find out who I was-their influence distracted me. Now I see what a powerful hold they have, no matter what.
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