My grandfather’s legacy & money as deep care

Money doesn’t impress me. Nice places, amounts made, people flashing it around. ⁣

But it does register as deep care. ⁣

My grandfather grew up with no money, the son of immigrants from Greece. ⁣

And he built a life and created a legacy that took care of all of us. ⁣

The decisions he made, businesses created, buildings purchased, investments. ⁣

Three children and six grandchildren. ⁣
And care taken for every one. ⁣

My money from my grandfather provided for a large part of my life in my twenties. Allowed me to travel and paid for my trainings. ⁣
Even when he was alive he never said no to using this money – originally set aside for school – for something else I wanted to learn. Yoga. Shamanism. ⁣
A man his age could have rolled his eyes and said no. Instead he said, whatever you are interested in. ⁣
I felt like, what I care about matters. ⁣

My money from him ran out right after I met Jordan. ⁣
I remember it exactly. ⁣
I thought I was out of money but remembered a bit more in a different account. ⁣
It felt like him, reaching out to hold me. ⁣
I remember crying with this deep humbleness of how provided for I was. ⁣
His care, holding me right into meeting my husband. Gently handing me over to Canada. ⁣

And it still holds me, because while we can talk a lot about saving and investing, I spent all the money instead. ⁣
I spent it all investing in myself. ⁣
And I think he’d be proud of that too. ⁣
What more could he ask for really than the result of all his decisions being that I can provide for myself and others in a way that makes me happy. ⁣

His building just sold, this building he bought with a partner in a funny story that then became the cornerstone of the downtown square near where I grew up. ⁣
I grew up coming to this building, the bank building, going up to my uncle’s office, looking out over all the buildings and thinking we owned downtown (we didn’t, but I certainly felt important). ⁣

And in the sale of this building he continues to take care of his children, which trickles down to his grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. ⁣

This is legacy, to me, and I spend a lot of time thinking about the generosity and care of one man, to hold and provide for his family to such an extent. ⁣
It is a gift I know many do not get to receive. ⁣

I wish that we could talk now about business, that Jordan could talk to him about business. ⁣
I opened a yoga studio when I was 22 and he died just a month later. ⁣
But I still remember him coming to see the studio. Not knowing what he’d think, since he had a “real” business. ⁣

He was so proud. ⁣

His death was unexpected and was very difficult for me, for my mom, for all of us. ⁣

And I tear up every time I remember how much I have felt held by him since then, these ripples of past decisions he’s made. ⁣

Money doesn’t replace love, or presence, of course. ⁣
I was lucky to feel these things from my grandfather too. ⁣

And.. I think whether the person was there for us or not, sometimes when we are handed money we can take it for granted.⁣

Instead of feeling the immense amount of care being given to us. ⁣

It is love, too, in a different form.

 

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