ZADNJE PISMO UNUCIMA
Mudre misli i životne pouke sadrži zadnje dedino pismo unucima koje je amerikanac Džems Flanagan napisao svojim naslednicima
On Sept. 3, 2012, James K. Flanagan iz West Long Branch, N.J., iznenada je preminuo od srčanog udara. Samo mesec dana ranije on je napisao pismo svojim unucima, a pismo je uz dozvolu njegove ćerke Rejčel Krejton objavljeno u američkim medijima. Pismo unucima je steklo globalnu popularnost zbog onoga što je u njemu pisalo a pročitajte i zašto.
Autor pisma James Jim Flanagan
Po domaćim sajtovima ovo dedino pismo unucima se pojavljuje u skraćenom obliku. Potrudili smo se da ga objavimo u celosti u prevodu na srpski a uz to dajemo i originalni tekst na engleskom, jer je veoma poetičan u originalu.
Dedino zadnje pismo unucima
Dragi Ryan, Conor, Brendon, Charlie i Mary Catherine,
Moja draga i mudra kćerka Rachell tražila je od mene da zapišem neke savete za vas, one važne stvari koje sam naučio u životu. Počinjem ovo pismo 8. aprila 2012., uoči mog 72. rođendana.
1. Svako od vas je najlepši dar od Boga vašoj porodici i celom svetu. Setite se toga uvek, posebno kad sumnjate u sebe i kad ste obeshrabreni.
2. Ne plašite se nikoga i ničega i živite punim plućima. Sledite svoje nade i snove bez obzira na to koliko su teške i koliko su drugačije od drugih. Ljudi često ne rade ono što žele ili što bi trebalo jer konstantno razmišljaju što će drugi misliti ili reći o tome. I zapamtite još jednu bitnu stvar – ljudi koji vam ne donesu supu kad ste bolesni ili ako nisu pored vas kad ste u nevolji, nisu bitni! Izbegavajte one kiselo plemenite duše psimista koji kada slušaju vaše snove govore: „Da, ali šta ako …“ To je pakao misli „Šta ako …“ Učinite to! Najgora stvar u životu je da se osvrćete unazad i da govorite: „Želeo sam, mogao sam, trebao sam.“ Preuzmiter rizik, napravite greške.
3. Svi smo mi sasvim obični ljudi. Neki nose preskupu odeću ili imaju velike titule ili moć i misle da su iznad svih ostalih, ali oni nisu tako moćni kao što izgledaju. Oni imaju iste sumnje, strahove i nade, jedu, piju, spavaju i prde, kao i sav normalan svet. Ispitujte autoritet ali uvek budite mudri i oprezni sa načinom na koji to činite.
4. Napravite Životnu listu svih onih stvari koje želite učiniti: putovanja do mesta koje želite; učenje veština koje vas zanimajue; savladati jezik; sresti nekoga posebno. Neka bude duga lista i dodajte nove stvari svake godine. Nemojte reći: „Ja ću to učiniti sutra“ (ili sledećeg meseca ili sjedeće godine). To je najsigurniji način da se ne uspe ništa. Nema sutra, i ne postoji „pravo“ vreme za početak nečega osim sada.
5. Kad porastete i dobijete decu, uvek imajte na umu staru irsku poslovicu: Hvalite decu i ona će cvetati!
6. Budite dobri i uvek pomažite ljudima – posebno slabijima, onima koji su uplašeni i deci. Svi oni nose neku svoju tugu i potrebno im je vaše saosećanje.
7. Nemojte se pridružiti vojsci ili bilo kojoj drugoj organizaciji koja vas trenira da ubijate. Rat je zlo. Sve ratove su započeli stari ljudi koji su prevarili mlade muškarce da mrze i ubijaju jedni druge. Starci prežive i kao što su započeli rat olovkom i papirom, završavaju ga na isti način. Tako mnogo dobrih i nevinih ljudi umre. Ako je rat tako dobar i plemenit, zašto te vodje koje su ga započele se ne bore u njemu?
8. Čitajte knjige koliko god možete. One su predivan izvor uživanja, mudrosti i inspiracije. Knjige ne trebaju baterije a ni konekcije, mogu da idu svuda sa vama.
9. Uvek budite iskreni.
10. Putujte kad god ste u mogućnosti, posebno dok ste mladi. Ne čekajte da imate dovoljno novca ili dok se sve kockice ne slože. To se nikada, ali nikada ne događa. Uzmite pasoš danas.
11. Izaberite posao ili profesiju koju ćete voleti. Naravno, biće i teških trenutaka, ali posao vam mora biti uživanje. Izbegavaj da uzmeš posao samo zbog novca – to će oštetiti tvoju dušu.
12. Ne vičite! To nikad ne uspeva, a povređuje i vas i druge. Svaki put kad sam vikao, doživeo sam neuspeh.
13. Uvek ispunjavajte obećanja koja ste dali deci. Nemojte govoriti “videćemo” ako znate da je odgovor “ne”. Deca očekuju istinu, dajte im je s ljubavlju i ljubaznošću.
14. Nikad ne govorite nekome da ga volite ako nije tako.
15. Živite u harmoniji s prirodom: izađite napolje, obiđite šumu, planine, mora, pustinje. To je veoma važno za dušu.
16. Posetite Irsku (postojbinu predaka). Tamo je duša naše porodice rodjena.
17. Grlite ljude koje volite. Recite im sada koliko vam znače, ne čekajte da bude prekasno.
18. Budite zahvalni. Irci kažu: „Ovo je dan našeg života i neće doći ponovo.“ Živite svaki dan sa tom mišlju u glavi.
. . .
Zadnje dedino pismo unucima u originalu na engleskom
On Sept. 3, 2012, James K. Flanagan of West Long Branch, N.J., died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He wrote this letter to his five grandchildren just months earlier and it is reprinted here with the permission of his daughter Rachel Creighton.
Dear Ryan, Conor, Brendan, Charlie, and Mary Catherine,
My wise and thoughtful daughter Rachel urged me to write down some advice for you, the important things that I have learned about life. I am beginning this on 8 April 2012, the eve of my 72nd birthday.
1. Each one of you is a wonderful gift of God both to your family and to all the world. Remember it always, especially when the cold winds of doubt and discouragement fall upon your life.
2. Be not afraid . . . of anyone or of anything when it comes to living your life most fully. Pursue your hopes and your dreams no matter how difficult or „different“ they may seem to others. Far too many people don’t do what they want or should do because of what they imagine others may think or say. Remember, if they don’t bring you chicken soup when you’re sick or stand by you when you’re in trouble, they don’t matter. Avoid those sour-souled pessimists who listen to your dreams then say, „Yeah, but what if . . .“ The heck with „what if. . .“ Do it! The worst thing in life is to look back and say: „I would have; I could have; I should have.“ Take risks, make mistakes.
3. Everyone in the world is just an ordinary person. Some people may wear fancy hats or have big titles or (temporarily) have power and want you to think they are above the rest. Don’t believe them. They have the same doubts, fears, and hopes; they eat, drink, sleep, and fart like everyone else. Question authority always but be wise and careful about the way you do it.
4. Make a Life List of all those things you want to do: travel to places; learn a skill; master a language; meet someone special. Make it long and do some things from it every year. Don’t say „I’ll do it tomorrow“ (or next month or next year). That is the surest way to fail to do something. There is no tomorrow, and there is no „right“ time to begin something except now.
5. Practice the Irish proverb: Moi an olge agus tiocfaidh sí „Praise the child and she will flourish.“
6. Be kind and go out of your way to help people — especially the weak, the fearful, and children. Everyone is carrying a special sorrow, and they need our compassion.
7. Don’t join the military or any organization that trains you to kill. War is evil. All wars are started by old men who force or fool young men to hate and to kill each other. The old men survive, and, just as they started the war with pen and paper, they end it the same way. So many good and innocent people die. If wars are so good and noble, why aren’t those leaders who start wars right up there fighting?
8. Read books, as many as you can. They are a wonderful source of delight, wisdom, and inspiration. They need no batteries or connections, and they can go anywhere.
9. Be truthful.
10. Travel: always but especially when you are young. Don’t wait until you have „enough“ money or until everything is „just right.“ That never happens. Get your passport today.
11. Pick your job or profession because you love to do it. Sure, there will be some things hard about it, but a job must be a joy. Beware of taking a job for money alone — it will cripple your soul.
12. Don’t yell. It never works, and it hurts both yourself and others. Every time I have yelled, I have failed.
13. Always keep promises to children. Don’t say „we’ll see“ when you mean „no.“ Children expect the truth; give it to them with love and kindness.
14. Never tell anyone you love them when you don’t.
15. Live in harmony with Nature: go into the outdoors, woods, mountains, sea, desert. It’s important for your soul.
16. Visit Ireland. It’s where the soul of our family was born — especially the West: Roscommon, Clare, and Kerry.
17. Hug people you love. Tell them how much they mean to you now; don’t wait until it’s too late.
18. Be grateful. There is an Irish saying: „This is a day in our lives, and it will not come again.“ Live every day with this in mind.
As was written in his obituary, James K. Flanagan „was proudly liberal and fought unyieldingly for the underdog. He was an accomplished author, poet, and seanchai — Irish storyteller; he reveled in recounting the joy of growing up Catholic in Jersey City and his adventures in the Adirondack Mountains and on the Western coast of Ireland. His greatest love was spending time with his family, most of all his five grandchildren“ Ryan (11); Conor (10); Brendan (9); Charles (8); and Mary Catherine (5).“