Received money from my father's accidental death (at age 32) before I was born. Not the kind of money I ever wanted to have, but it was there for me, nonetheless.
My grandma gave me an early inheritance, which was just enough to bring me to Iceland to live... and what turned out to be the defining year of my 20s, if not my life (that remains to be seen).
I have always felt a significant level of obligation and guilt related to both of these "inheritances." I have imposed a great deal of pressure on myself to do right by the sources of this money, so that they would be proud of the way I used it, and never ashamed. I was somewhat relieved that when my maternal grandmother died, she had little left to give anyone, let alone me. It made it easier, somehow. More clarity for grief, rather than guilt.
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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran
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