The Ultimate Gift

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Boy kids these days have it so good!" Or been guilty of spouting, "Back when I was a kid, I had to walk 5 miles to school up hill both ways..." or "We were so poor we couldn't afford sense of humor..." or something dramatic and devastating like that.

Yes, we want our children to be spared from "suffering" as we did. But part of us is jealous that they have so many of the modern conveniences we didn't have. And it seems so much is just given to them. Do they have to earn anything? Do your children do any "chores" without expecting an allowance or treat of some kind? It makes me wonder about the next generation (not to sound like an old lady here).

I saw a good movie this weekend that gave me some hope. The Ultimate Gift is actually based on a book of the same name and, unbeknownst to me, has spurred a movement of sorts ... or I should say an "experience."

The story synopsis is this: When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with 12 tasks -- or “gifts” -- designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.

If you check out the Web site about it, www.theultimategift.com, you'll learn more about this movement: A few years back, a little book started something very big. A message that has already prompted people to give to others, connect with friends and family, and help those in need like never before. Every one of us has powerful gifts to share, now we all have the added inspiration, resources and opportunities of a full-fledged movement. Each day, the momentum grows and the impact widens, as The Ultimate Gift continues to inspire millions of others to share the gift and change the world.

Watching the movie, I found it interesting to see that the first "gift" was the gift of work. The spoiled main character hadn't really worked a day in his life. After spending a month on a ranch, he learned to be responsible and reliable and took pride in his work. His grandfather pointed out that anyone willing to work hard can do just about anything -- and succeed.

Isn't that the truth? Think about your childhood and how many "chores" you had to do. (I might joke that it was slave labor, but I learned to do the "job" -- and do it well.) Now think about your work ethic. Chances are, if you are from my generation and older, you consider yourself a hard worker. You might even be a bit of a perfectionist -- doing any task at hand to the best of your ability.

Now what about your kids and/or grandkids? Can you say the same? I have concerns about how our family is going to go about developing a strong work ethic when we can't even get the 15-year-old to go to school!

Granted, work is not everything. But if you check out this movie or the book or the Web site, you'll find it is one of many gifts we can give our loved ones. As with most things we treasure - our values, our love and our time - the only way to keep it is to give it away. Enjoy the ultimate gift.