Life Hacks for my Great-Grandchildren

By Lavern Nissley
Encompass Executive Director

My Dad and my son, Josh, both have the same birthdays on June 8 - 39 years apart. I always start thinking about this unique historical overlap as the month of June begins. This year Josh and Emily are expecting a son, but my Dad won't get to meet him as he passed last November.

It got me thinking about my future great-grandchildren, hoping I get to meet at least a few. Likely our age gap would be 70-80 years. What would I want to give them that would enrich their lives? What life hacks could I offer them that would still be relevant in their generation? Here goes . . .

1. Find your life "WHY". Hopefully, your parents and grandparents will have helped you discover and understand your personal and special reason for existence. Life is very different for those who live out of a clear "WHY" compared to those who don't have an inspiring sense of purpose. My own life "WHY" grows out of my faith: 1) To love God with my whole being, 2) To love others like myself, and 3) To help others experience the first two for themselves.
2. Use your gifts and abilities to improve the world. You have been given certain skills and aptitudes that you're really good at. The temptation can be to use them for your own purposes - making a name for yourself, making lots of money, improving your own life. However, if these are primary, you'll end up feeling empty. Leaving a lasting legacy when you get to be as old as I am is to look back over your life and see that you were able to make a difference in the lives of OTHERS. THEY are better off body, soul, and spirit because of your investments in THEM.
3. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. This isn't original with me; it comes from a life-changing book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. If you're like most people you want to BE understood - for other people to listen to YOUR ideas and interests. Well, that will happen more readily as you take the lead in trying to understand those around you FIRST. It's kind of like a doctor diagnosing before prescribing.
4. Live proactively (versus reactively). This tip also comes from the 7 Habits book by Covey. Essentially it means focusing most of your time and energy upon things you can actually do something about. What do you have influence over? Of course, all of us have things we're concerned about, but if we can't do anything about them, it is not helpful to dwell on them. Living proactively will reduce your stress and feelings of being victimized.
5. Pass along these hacks to your children and grandchildren. You'll certainly want to talk about them. But most convincing will be you actually living them as an example. Doing so will be one of the greatest gifts you can pass along as a legacy for those who follow you.

I am well over halfway through my life. You're just beginning yours. As I look back over my years on this planet I see many, many changes that have happened. Believe or not, the internet didn't even exist until I was about 12 years old, and then it was another 20 years or so until it became something ordinary people began using. I can't imagine how things will change in your lifetime, long after I'm no longer here.

But I do know that some things are so valuable, so timeless, and so universal that I'm confident in passing them along to you as my great grandchildren. Implementing them will virtually guarantee a life of faithfulness, fruitfulness and fulfillment.

"The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”
       Numbers 6:24-26

(Written especially in honor of my father, David Nissley, 1933-2021, and in celebration of his great-grandson to be born this August, 2022. Additionally, our three granddaughters Ali, Charlie, and Maddie are well on their way to making a positive difference through their lives.)