If you are down due of the economy...
Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 12:33 PM
Posted by Martin
Here is a little story to inspire you:
“Edna Towle – my maternal grandmother – was forced to sell her 1,000-acre ranch at the height of the Great Depression in 1936 in order to meet bank loans. She had been abandoned by her husband to run the ranch in the foothills of Nevada County with seven kids to raise in 1929. With three kids still at home at age 55, she moved to town and started cleaning houses, working the night shift at the cannery, and took on odd jobs. She bought a small lot and built her own home by her own hand going along as she could.”
“The house is more than modest by today’s standard. It has three bedrooms, one bathroom, and less than 800 square feet. She never complained, never looked back, and never cursed her lot in life. She had kids yet to raise and had to support herself. She did what she had to do.”
“When she died at age 85, all of the possessions she had were essentially in her modest home as she didn’t even have a car. But she raised seven kids essentially on her own, refused to wallow in self-pity, demanded of herself and others that they do the best they could, and paid all of her debts. And she also made sure to help those who were less fortunate however she could.”
“She also refused to judge herself against others who had more material things. It is something that those who have to start over today should keep in mind especially if they are not among those who are walking away from their home simply because it is worth less today than it was when they bought it. There is great dignity in doing the right thing. There is no shame in failing if you tried to do the right thing but couldn’t overcome circumstances. You can fail and you can get back up again.”
“Success in life isn’t about big screen TVs, big houses, touring Europe, or the latest gadgets. It is about how you deal with trials and tribulations.”
source: The Manteca Bulletin