FDR Got It Right

My email pal lives in the north eastern part of the United States. She is the only other living grandmother in our family. I first met her when her daughter married my son. Since then we have visited several times over the years but really got to know and enjoy each others company via email. She sent me some newspaper articles about the bears in her area. She hopes for a sighting but prepares to deter the bears from doing any damage to her home and yard. She has had some close encounters but has no fear. I would have lots of fear if one came into my yard !!

She sent me a note along with the clippings and the note had a quote at the top which says: "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." The author of that quote was none other than our thirty-second president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is better known for saying " there is nothing to fear but fear itself". Another famous quote, "yesterday, December 7 is a date which will live in infamy.". Also a timeless bit of wisdom, "Let us have the courage to stop borrowing to meet continuing deficits". He is the only president who was elected for four terms. I think he had great insight to make the comment about happiness. He also had great courage to overcome crippling polio to achieve so much in those years. No doubt, his struggle with that handicap heightened his awareness of where true happiness lies.

Therefore I declare him to be a great sage to understand that concept. Happiness is not to be found in temporal things. But rather in what we can create,or achieve, whatever it may be. Just watch a child learning to walk, how proud he feels to finally walk without help or his pride in learning to write his own name. A child is happiest when he can share his accomplishments. I think adults are the same. Achievement is best when shared. So, the next time a child comes to you with bright and shining eyes to share something he has done, exalt with him in his achievement; for that too is priceless to him. You will both have achieved an inner joy which money cannot buy.