The Life Lesson Learned on a Train over 50 Years Ago

My Great-Grandmother was once on a train with her eldest daughter, who was a baby at the time, (my Grandma.)

Sitting across from her was a woman in her late fifties, dressed in the finest clothing and fur money could buy.

They struck up a conversation, and the wealthy dame asked about my Grandmother (the baby).

They exchanged the general chit-chat about where they were traveling and what they were doing with their lives.

Gradually, the conversation deepened, and the wealthy woman explained to my great- grandmother how she had given her life to business and commerce.

Now, as child bearing years had passed by, she was completely alone and miserable in her wealth as she had never had children or married.

She told my great-grandmother she would give all that she had earned, just to have her own children and a family, but it was too late.

This deeply affected my great-grandmother. She went on to have 8 children.

It deeply affects me too.

The message of this story is not that working women should stop working and have babies.

It’s a message for women AND men that in our pursuit for accomplishment and wealth, at the end of the day, and maybe even the middle of it, what truly matters will always eventually be the longing of our hearts.

Don’t let it pass you by. Call your family. Spend time with them. Make memories.

Cherish those relationships.

Because real wealth can and will never be bought.