I just finished reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. The story of one man’s odyssey through the tumultuous landscape of 20th-century Russia is filled with philosophical observations unfurled so eloquently you literally find yourself reading the passages aloud to yourself – and then to whoever else will listen. Towles’ main character endures a life-altering turn of events and finds his silver lining in friendship, history, fine wine and parenthood. My book club unanimously loved this beautifully crafted tale of honor, intellect and courage with just the right amount of humor sprinkled in to make it a delightfully captivating read.
In one of my favorite passages, Towles writes, “our lives are steered by uncertainties, many of which are disruptive or even daunting; but that if we persevere and remain generous at heart, we may be granted a moment of lucidity – a moment in which all that has happened to us suddenly comes into focus as a necessary course of events, even as we find ourselves on the threshold of a bold new life that we have been meant to lead all along.”
I’ve often shared this sentiment with my children, now young adults. Nothing in life is certain. The road to happiness is filled not just with twists and turns but also with a plethora of potholes, barricades and stop signs. By the time they graduated high school, they’d seen more than their fair share of tragedy, but feeling great sadness gives us reason to talk, to share the depth of our heart, to learn resilience and to resolve to live with more purpose. I am amazed not just by their individual abilities but by their fortitude to move forward in spite of inevitable hardships, failures and losses. With perseverance, courage, kindness and a hearty dose of humor steering their course, they will indeed find a rich and rewarding journey. I am proud of who they ARE and excited to see who they will BE.
Over the past nearly 6 years, Good Life Family has sought to provide educational, informational and inspirational content that supports families navigating the road of life. It is our mission, purpose and promise to provide authentic, factual, and honest journalism and let you draw your own conclusions.
Wherever your path takes you, I wish you a safe and joy-filled journey.
– Sheryl
Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon
Publisher/Editor in Chief
GoodLIFEfamilymag.com
LIVE. LEARN. LAUGH. EAT DESSERT FIRST. REPEAT.
Editors note: I wrote this column last month before the pandemic crisis impacted our world, and now looking back, it seems almost eerie how uncertain life really is and how important it is to help our children, and one another, steer through this devastating course. I wish us all safe passage. Please feel free to email me at sheryl@goodlifefamilymag.com or Tricia White, our Managing Editor, at Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com with any advice, news, information or inspirations that we might share with our readers.