I visited the UK on business last week addressing issues of social justice at a national Inquiry into how societal structures at certain periods of time, looked after the most vulnerable. The focus being on what lessons can we learn to influence future thinking and practice. It was akin to what we have been talking about in the present series of ‘Life Lessons’ over the past three blog articles featured in www.daviddivine.co: July 17th, 2018, ‘Allowing Yourself to See and Wonder’; July 7th, 2018, ‘The Sight and Sound of Running Water’; June 26th, 2018, Tabula Rasa- ‘A Clean Slate’.
Before returning to my adopted home country, I am spending a week with my family in London, UK. The weather has been lovely, encouraging individuals to smile and engage with one another. The extended family gathered at the weekend to celebrate the contribution of our family elders who had laid the foundations for those of us who followed, to build on and leap towards hitherto unknown realms of possibility. We honoured the elders in our midst-looking beautiful, palpably fragile, carrying the impact of decades of hard work, living in an environment where they were not wanted, not acknowledged for their contribution to the society where they were entitled to belong, fighting for survival against often insurmountable odds, and somehow, cautiously, with huge amounts of will power, tenacity, effort and faith, succeeded.
Bringing up families, laying the groundwork for future generations, sacrificing themselves for their children, believing that the next generation will benefit from their labour.
The elders present, looking at me as I, on behalf of the family, thanked them for their love, endurance and faith. Upon that we stand as a younger generation grasping our entitlement that our elders could hardly imagine because they were so mired in barely surviving and creating the conditions for the next generation to take hold of the baton and progress further. We were privileged to be in the same room as our elders. We owe it to them not to squander their history of privations, the indignities they endured, the lost opportunities, believing that in their sacrifice, the long- term goals of creating a legacy will be fulfilled. Indeed, they were right.
I had the privilege last night of being home when my nephew came in from a hard day at work. I was finishing my dinner. He joined me. As we were eating, we entered into a conversation. I am forty- four years older than my nephew. The subject matter of our spontaneous talk together was life journeys and what we have learnt from those.
Much of the inspiration influencing my decisions in how to pursue my life course has come from the minds of those who put their life stories in print-past and present. Hundreds and hundreds of such books I have read. I have been an avid reader of biography and autobiography for decades. The sources of inspiration for my nephew came from his youthful peers. He selected those who reflected and could assist him in becoming the person he wished to be in life. In return he gives that precious gift to them. His influencers are living, current, youthful and he is directly engaged with them routinely. My own, equally valid, are often dead, elderly-reflections of an earlier life period and time, and often forgotten, now.
I was absorbed by the thoughtfulness, sincerity, depth, passion, of my nephew as to what he wanted to achieve in life and how he was planning to get there. I listened and was hugely impressed and realised why I loved him so much. He was a soul mate. He was so young and so wise. What I learnt from him was that regardless of age differences, we can teach each other about how to live our lives and achieve our goals. Thank you, Joshua, for taking the time to talk with me. You made me smile. I am indebted to you for teaching me tonight.