We just looked at our bank app once the check cleared and saw the huge amount of $250,000.
The final item they gave me. We were to focus on saving and not vacation, putting all our efforts into a lump of money we were supposed to one day pass on.
Still, when my wife saw me and said, “But, what if we chose not to?”
Not as a cold and self-centered person. We still have a lot of love for our children. We do. Deeply. Still, I tried to help them grow so they could support themselves, accomplish what they wanted, and find their path. And truthfully? We had spent many years making sure our families’ needs came before our own.
The money they paid was not related to them. It impacted our lives.
Therefore, we bought a camper.
Just basic, a place for rest and food, and maybe a place for beautiful sunset chases. We displayed National Parks on our maps. At least a couple of times, we ended up lost. We enjoyed wine outside places with no cell coverage. Both of us became ourselves once again, not only our roles as parents.
The craziest thing is
Our children did not act upset when we explained to them. They found it funny instead of upsetting.
According to our son, we should enjoy the money. What you have achieved matters more than just having bills and dealing with kids.
So this is us out there, shooting pictures somewhere in Montana, not holding back, taking deep breaths.
It was not only about the money we got.
It provided us with time that is not available with a live event.
It allowed us to enjoy life with ease, something we were not able to do before. While traveling in the camper, our life for a moment turned into an adventure free from the pressures of jobs, saving, and years of caring for others. Going without a real destination was actually freeing.
At the beginning, it seemed a bit odd to put our own interests first. I was always thinking of the many activities we could have organized for the kids. We had an opportunity to start saving for their education, or support them in buying their first houses. Still, they were very capable of caring for themselves. At that time, our daughter was running her own business, and our son was busy with projects that really motivated him. They became successful without depending on us.
For many years, we concentrated only on our children’s needs, and we neglected our own.
We spent many weeks exploring deserts, forests, mountains, and valleys in the car, just the two of us, and remembered the lives we had before having children. We sang to the tunes playing on the radio, ate together at random restaurants, and walked on trails we never knew existed. My partner and I talked as though we were on a first date, remembering the things we adore about one another. Getting a camper with the money meant we got back the happiness in our relationship too.
After a day of hiking in the National Park, we drove the camper next to a lake. As the sun went down, it filled the sky with different shades of orange and purple. We sat quietly next to each other and took a little time to enjoy the wine.
My wife gently sighed and traced the edge of her wine glass, then told me, “We got so used to missing this.” We have been paying so much attention to everyone else around us. It became difficult for me to imagine what it felt like for us to be together.”
I nodded and looked around me as I said, “I know.” However, it is quite amusing, isn’t it? I personally believed offering our children everything would help us be good parents. At this point, I’m not sure what to think. It may have been better if we were able to let ourselves be happy, as well.
The silence made us really appreciate the stunning surroundings. Everything could be completed at a leisurely pace. No deadlines. Only two of us in the wilderness, together with the world before us.
But this is when things took on a different direction.
After travelling for more than a month, we stopped near Wyoming at a little town. Unless you were looking right at it, this place was easy to overlook because it was hidden far back from the fields. We had breakfast in a diner, and we ended up talking to the owner, an elderly woman named Mae. You could feel like a long-time friend with her, even if she was a total stranger.
While drinking coffee, Mae took the chance to talk about herself, what she’d gone through, and what she hoped to do. She rarely left the town because she cared for her family, friends, and clients, but she could not help thinking about traveling and experiencing more outside Wyoming.
After listening for so long, we noticed a meaningful point. Here, we were passing through different states for the sunsets, living our dreams, while Mae stayed there, unable to start the life she wanted.
It constantly bothered us. Our money was meant to help us live exactly as we wanted, but what if it could achieve so much more? What if somebody like Mae could see their dreams become a reality through charitable efforts?
We discussed it after that, since we woke up feeling better, we stopped by at Mae’s diner for breakfast. We mentioned that we wanted to help her enjoy life just like we were. There was nothing certain about how it would go, but we decided to give her part of the inheritance. It might not have been much, but it enabled her to step away for a while, visit new places, and find out what was beyond her job.
At first, she could not believe it and refused, but we pushed her to become an actress. You’ve always been there for other people throughout your life. Your happiness matters, so you should spend your life for yourself.
She nodded, while her eyes filled with tears. Mae sent us postcards showing her journeys all over the country to places and experiences she never expected. It was truly uplifting to observe someone get out of the traps they had made for themselves.
Mae’s struggles made an impact on many people, not just herself. Our kids were inspired by our choices and began to look at their lives differently. Mae’s strength and braveness motivated our son to take a break from work for a year and travel and photograph different countries. Our daughter is always eager to achieve, and has been working on how to use business to support needy communities by putting her skills into practice.
It was a real surprise to find out, a few months later, that Mae was creating a small non-profit to help others who, like her, had given up on their dreams. She was spending our money to visit new places and to make dreams possible for others.
What’s even more impressive is this: People in the town heard about Mae’s experiences. People who never expected to make a difference in their lives started trying, and moving toward their ambitions. A little action led to many consequences, reaching people and impacting lives that we never expected.
Still, our inheritance meant more than just having freedom. We could help in a way that was significant to us and also to those around us. Money was never only for us; it was supposed to help us achieve something greater than ourselves.
This experience taught me that being generous can be as simple as helping someone in any way possible. Sometimes, helping others discover and show their potential can have a big impact.
The lesson here is that you must do something for yourself first. At times, looking after yourself first allows you to support others effectively. The greatest pleasure comes from realizing that you can give more than money, you can share your experiences, stories, and help people find answers for themselves.
The further we move on, I realize how much things have changed for us since we got the inheritance. Instead of getting just money, we got the opportunity to live for a reason, help others, and enjoy every moment of life.
If you are fortunate enough to help out, always keep in mind that what really counts is the effect it produces.
Should this story speak to you, feel free to let someone who needs encouragement know about it. We should continue encouraging others with our stories, bit by bit.
