Pearls of Wisdom: What We Learned About Life From Parents We’ve Lost

On November 9th of last year, I was holding my mother’s hand when she passed away at 83 years of age. She is the first of my parents to go, which has led me to reflect deeply on how her life has shaped the trajectory of my own. My mother taught me to find the beauty in moments and relationships and not just focus on problems, to judge myself and others less, and to be curious about other people and how I might be able to help them.

Knowing that many of you within our Highland community have lost one or both parents already, I thought it would be incredibly valuable to capture the pearls of wisdom we have gleaned from departed parents who impacted our lives beyond measure. To create this wisdom list, I asked the following question:

“What is one thing that you will always remember about your parent(s) that will influence and shape the way you live your life?”

I received heartfelt and thoughtful responses from many in our community. For privacy, I have summarized the responses without attribution. My hope is that you will find at least one nugget that will be a source of inspiration for your own life journey.

Would you like to share the wisdom your parents imparted, or are still sharing with you? Please email us with your own parental pearls of wisdom.

“Seek adventure of all kinds and “go for it.”

“Redefine success in a way that prioritizes time over money and creates opportunities to be rich in relationships, meaning, and fun.”

“Dish out more grace, compassion and encouragement.”

“Live your life around a compass centered on a foundation of values.”

“Don’t be angry and bitter about things. Be open-minded. Accept life with grace and peace. Appreciate life more.”

“Care about people and always be learning. Give yourself the freedom to chase your dreams.”

“Read as many books as you can.”

“Grasp life with both hands and live it to the fullest. Squeeze all that you can out of life.”

“Be content with imperfection. Give yourself the freedom to live into your own imperfection.”

“Live a life of service to others.”

“Remove expectations of yourself and others around how they respond to loss, and be present. Be more compassionate and empathetic toward others.”

“Capture tangible reminders of connection points in important relationships with your family and friends, such as audio/video recordings of a loved one’s talents, recipes in your mother’s handwriting, family stories and family history.”

“Find the beauty in moments and relationships, and don’t just focus on problems. Judge yourself and others less. Be curious about other people and their lives and how you might be able to help them.”

“Show and tell those you love that you truly care for them.”

“My mother, who emigrated from Greece and spoke no English when she arrived in the US, taught me how to be brave and take steps forward in life, even if the outcome is uncertain and potentially scary.”

“Use empathy and curiosity to understand people from all walks of life. Real connection and meaningful relationships are the key to happiness.”

“Being of service to others will enrich your life. Work hard, kick butt and make change in areas that you believe are the most important. Never stop trying to make things better.”

“Prioritize time over money. Redefine your definition of success to include deeper relationships, opportunities for meaning, and having more fun along the way.”