The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours

The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours

If you had to give one piece of advice or guidance to someone you cared about most, what would you say? In Marian Edelman’s The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours, she answers this tough, yet important question. A book filled with inspiration for not only her children but for everyone else and their children, Edelman addresses twenty-five lessons for life. As a child who grew up valuing family, education, her faith, and most importantly, service to others, Edelman is a prime example of someone to learn from in a society that faces racial, economic, and many other challenges daily.

One of the key themes present throughout the small, thin paperback is the importance of giving. Whether it is giving love to your children and thy neighbors or providing some type of service to your community members or “extended family” as Edelman speaks of, providing some type of philanthropic service is a crucial necessity of our society. Growing up with a family who values giving to others before themselves, has obviously been a key value that has been passed down from generation to generation. We must all look out for each other and focus less on what we do not have. I believe we are all guilty of being selfish in a way that we think that what happens in our community doesn’t affect us, but it really does, even if in small ways. For example, Edelman stresses the importance of children having extracurricular activities and the necessary services in order to prevent them from engaging in such easy activities like drugs and gangs. Think about how easy it is for a child to become an active in any of these? Without the nurturing and love provided by not just the family but the community as well, the chances of a child becoming involved in one of these “families” are increasing everyday.

Though everyone knows the importance of giving, many don’t. And when we see someone who goes above and beyond or who practices general courteous mannerisms, we recognize them with a “Good Humanitarian Award.” Though this award is intended to increase citizen’s service to others, as Edelman says, its pretty sad that everyday manners that we all possess are not practiced often and are looked as something we have to do, rather than something that should be second nature. With that said, it is ever most important that parental guidance and community activism is practiced. In my own family, I have witnessed my mother go out of her way to help another, and a father who has raised a child, myself, who he did not bear, as his own. Acts of kindness such as these go a long way in another’s life. We become more thankful for those around and what we have, rather than what we need. Simple life lessons like these that my parents have taught me are lessons that I continue to strive and grow from.

Another theme that Edelman stresses throughout her lessons is the importance of not holding grudges but focusing on personal growth and responsibility. I have always believed in not holding grudges, but have found this easier said than done. With that said, I believe in forgiveness firstly. In order to grow we must learn from others and ours mistakes. Throughout the book, Edelman discusses the many struggles the Black community has faced but how these struggles should not hold them back nor make them want to seek revenge (no matter how justified one may feel). This lesson was so important to me because I feel that a lot of people tend to live in the past in a negative way. Though slavery is negative in all aspects, it is something that brought an outstanding amount of pain yet leaders in harsh conditions. Blacks like many minorities, value the everyday options many European decedents take advantage of. However, simply comparing that one factor does not make one race better than the other. What it does, however is teach each race for being grateful for what they have (not what they feel is owed simply because of a color one was born with). No one chooses the colors they are born in, yet for centuries we have separated and cast away one by one, who are unlike thy self physically. Growing up as a mixed child in the 90’s, I am thankful for what I have and for the decreased amount of obvious discrimination that those before me saw. Though discrimination has decreased, it’s still there with all of its ignorant teaching. What’s important to me is focusing less on how it is viewed but how I am acting as a person. Am I acting like a good person, do I practice what I preach? Questions like these are what I ask myself.

I am ever the most grateful for how continually welcoming and adapting our society is growing to be. In previous years, we resisted interracial relationships, but I am a product of one. In previous years, we resisted that another darker race eat more little sit with us, but our own president is a minority. Though our country is not perfect, we are more tolerable of differences, which is important for a nations success.

The Measure of Our Success is a book that I would highly recommend because it makes one question what they value and the need to act on those values. We must commit to doing rather than just believing. If we feel that all people should be treated equally, we must begin so in the home. The home is the foundation for lessons to be learned and practiced; however how we act outside the home is the true test. Acting on one’s values and practicing our own faiths and good doings, is only way to achieve success. And though it is easier said than done, the reward is well worth it in the end. Whatever religion you believe in or whether you don’t believe in a religion, believe in the good of people. At our core, humans are not born evil, yet are taught. Know that one small act of kindness can make another’s day or lifetime. After all, what harm can from helping another in a positive way?