A Recipe for Happiness

 

Recipe box with recipe cards

My sister was recently looking through our late grandmother’s recipe box. In between the recipes for blueberry muffins and chocolate pound cake she came across a different type of recipe; my sister found a recipe for a happy life. Written in our grandmother’s handwriting, this is what my sister discovered:

THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry
Live simply, expect little, give much
Fill your life with love
Scatter sunshine
Forget self; think of others
Do as you would be done by

My sisters and I received many gifts from our grandmother over the years. To have discovered this recipe for life she inadvertently left behind for us is especially poignant; it has only been a few months since she passed away.

Thank you Gram, for these words of wisdom.

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Comments

19 responses to “A Recipe for Happiness”

  1. That is a recipe that deserves to be shared for sure! What a great idea and fabulous legacy she left for you girls to find. A true treasure!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      My sister shared it with me yesterday. It made my day!

  2. Aww this is so sweet – lovely! :)

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      I am glad you enjoyed this Nic.

  3. I got as far as the scattering sunshine part before I got a ticket for littering :(

    Kidding!!!

    Very wise words indeed.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Vinny. She was a loving, wise woman.

  4. Kristen

    I love this blog post. Gram would have wanted us to find these words and LIVE by them, she lived everyday by them.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      I agree. Thank you for sharing Kristen. Can you imagine how funny the conversation would be to explain to Gram what a blog is and that I shared it on a blog?

  5. Lovely. My Gramma pops up in my life in many ways. For me I treasured the recipes for the food as much as for her handwriting. My Gramma had a sweet tooth. My Grampa was overweight. So Gramma hid candy and goodies all over the house. After she passed we found candy in the pockets of old coats, purses, tucked in drawers! A veritable mouse heaven! Thanks for sharing your memory and for bringing out mine. (My sister is a Kristen too! Mine can be a little stinker sometimes.)

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Teri,

      Thank you for visiting and sharing your wonderful story. I am glad my piece brought back fond memories for you. Reader interaction is such a wonderful part of blogging so thank you again for commenting.

  6. Beautiful! Sharing!

  7. Jen

    I would love to hear you explain to Gram:
    a.) a blog
    b.) facebook
    c.) twitter
    ESPECIALLY C!!
    Thanks to both of you; very special!
    xo
    JK

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      That would have been hilarious!

  8. How wise your grandmother! But then again women of that era had a certain feminine sense that seems to be lost nowadays. I liked this very much…I putting it on a note card on my desk.
    Thank you for sharing.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      I am happy to hear you enjoyed this and that Gram’s wonderful message will be on your desk. Thanks for sharing your comment.

  9. I love this. Love the goodies from our grandparents–and old recipe boxes are my favorite!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Glad to hear this resonated for you. It was a wonderful discovery from a special lady who is missed.

  10. Fantastic!

    It’s too bad you didn’t have a scan of this beautiful piece of advice left behind. I think it would have been wonderful to see!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      I hope to see it next visit to Louisiana!