From Dad: My dad worked as a traveling salesman, leaving every Monday morning and returning home every Friday night. He took pride in his work and in presenting himself well, from starched shirts and a pressed suit to the shoes he polished every week using a wooden shoebox. When they wore thin, he had them resoled instead of buying new ones. From him, I learned dignity in work and pride in doing things well.
From Mom: My mom grew up during the Depression, and to her, having a job was a gift. Work was never something she complained about. She saw it as a privilege and a blessing. With eight children and one income, money was tight, but she made it work. She taught me how to live on a shoestring budget so naturally that I grew up thinking it was just normal life.
She never wasted anything and everything had a purpose. I remember watching her darn my dad’s socks, remake outgrown or outdated coats, and refresh our one couch with slipcovers instead of replacing it. She rarely bought anything for herself, and only after seeing if what she already had would do. She was frugal but never stingy, a mindset that still lives with me today. I keep a jar of buttons because I can still hear her say, “You might need that someday.” She was also one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known, keeping our home spotless and finding extra work when money was tight. Through it all, she never complained, and because of that, I never felt like we lacked anything.
What I Hope to Pass On: Both my parents showed me, by example, what it means to be grateful, to work hard, and to take care of what you have. They showed me that having a job is a blessing, that waste is unnecessary, and that you never buy what you cannot afford or go into debt. I hope to pass these values on to my children so they understand that, even with little, you can live richly when you live with gratitude, integrity, and care for what you have.
*Not an employee of Cetera