Mary grew up during the Great Depression. Living with her family in rural West Virginia, she learned to do nearly everything that was necessary for survival. There was no money to buy things. Her parents believed in a simple life and also in education. The only trip the family made to the small town 10 miles away was to visit the library.
It was a quote on the wall in their dining room that became the guide for Mary’s life: “Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants.” – Epictitus
As the Great Depression ended and the U.S. entered World War II, Mary decided to become a nurse. She became an R.N. after training in a big city hospital. Mary wasn’t taken in by the trappings of urban life and continued a very modest lifestyle.
When she began her nursing career, it was evident that she would become an exceptional caregiver. She had a remarkable ability to support those entrusted to her care. When her hospital wanted to recognize Mary for her exceptional talent, she asked that she not be singled out among her peers.
Mary had old-fashioned values about how people should be treated, but she was always the first to embrace advances in treatment practices. In fact, she often was more knowledgeable than the doctors she worked with. She helped them look good as she educated them on what she had learned.
Mary was strong in her faith and that helped her see the value in everyone she treated. She became an advocate for treating the whole person through very simple life practices.
Mary was a role model and mentor for others in the hospitals. She was often asked to provide life advice to others, including the physicians who practiced at the hospital.
Outside of work, Mary led a very modest life. She lived in a small home. She drove a car that was 10 years old. She wore clothes that had been in and out of fashion at least three times in her life. She still maintained a garden and canned vegetables. She made her own bread. She never ate out. Her only expense was tithing to her church.
Over the years, Mary had the quote that was hanging in her family’s dining room printed on business size cards. She would frequently give these cards to those who sought her out for advice.
When Mary passed away, her obituary was the lead story in the local paper. (Mary would have hated that.) Letters to the Editor would praise Mary for weeks after her passing.
Six months after her passing, a major announcement appeared in the local paper. An anonymous benefactor had given the community a major gift to establish a free health clinic for those without health insurance. This became the legacy of Mary’s humble life.
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Embracing a humble lifestyle involves:
- Suppressing one’s ego while supporting confidence in others.
- Being a role model and mentor without being considered all knowing.
- Sustaining one’s values while being open to others’ beliefs.
- Maintaining best practices gained from experience while being receptive to better ways.
- Practicing one’s faith in how we live our lives.
- Living modestly while investing for the future.