Leave a Portrait of Your Spirit

I recently watched a movie with several of my grandchildren, and it reminded me of something powerful: when a young person is struggling, a grandfather’s story can become a lifeline. Not because it’s perfect or dramatic—but because it proves this simple truth: fear is part of life, and it can be overcome.

That’s why you should write a letter to your grandchildren.

Not a resume. Not a brag sheet. A portrait of your spirit.

Your face is what you were given. Your spirit is what you built—through setbacks, hard choices, mistakes, forgiveness, courage, and love. And the most durable way to pass that spirit forward is in writing.

Spoken stories are wonderful… but they disappear into the air. Written words stay. They can be reread on a difficult night. Underlined. Highlighted. Returned to when life feels heavy.

And yes—writing will stir things up. You may even remember old anger. That’s okay. Be like Lincoln: write it out, purge it, then keep the lesson and discard the poison.

Start small. Record a few “five-second moments”—tiny turning points that shaped you. One or two sentences.

If you’ve made sense of your life, write it down.If you haven’t… write until you do.

Your grandchildren will need your words more than you can imagine.