Lately our culture has a lot of conversation on generational things – breaking generational curses, generational healing, generational wealth. I found my mind wandering into the last topic of generational wealth, wondering how someone of traditional means taps into this in a real way. Many often think of generational wealth as being a lump sum, worked for all of one’s life, given over in an instant at one’s death. But I think this over simplification limits what we can truly do generationally. Simply giving financial means once gone, although gracious and admirable, can lack context and intention. A monetary one time payment of generational wealth can be lost in a generation as quickly as it was gained in one – but when people speak of generational wealth I suspect they desire something deeper. I suspect we are all looking for something that builds upon itself and lasts. I would argue that one needs to take a wider view of generational wealth as a passing down – a passing down from which generation after generation the family pulls strength and privilege. This scope allows us to include the knowledge of self that can be passed through history, sets of values that can guide from one generation to another, and still monetary assets that can flow and grow over time. I think this larger scope is necessary because for generational wealth, multiple generations must align to build – but we must remember our children are not ourselves.
Your children are not your children…they came through you but not from you…you are the bow from which your children as living arrows are sent forth…
Kahlil Gibran. The Prophet
I see this concept to mean that each generation – parent – is simply an instrument of flight to the next generation – child. Each generation will have its own autonomy, so how does one get into alignment to build a true generational wealth? I think the best mechanism for passing down of things is – tradition.
If we want to pass down historical knowledge, sets of values, practices for building assets – we need to combine a practice with purpose, our movements with meaning. If we examine our traditions, the things we repeatedly do as a unit, we can see all that we stand to pass down. Luckily, if we feel these are misaligned or fall flat, there is an opportunity to infuse them with more intention. We must know and be known by the next generation, through strengthening of tradition, to properly pass anything onward. If I ever had a challenge for this life, it would be that…just hoping to be an instrument of great flight.
Taylor Ruby's 