Do you love ‘History’? We do – especially the stories of resilience and redemption, of love and sacrifice and reward for those who stay the distance. There’s a family manor, Deans Court, in Wimborne that occasionally opens its doors to the public. It’s been with the same family for nearly 500 years (since 1548).  You can achieve a lot within a 500 year span…

When we are feeling low, depressed, or down, it is natural to look within – which can lead to a negative downward spiral. It’s also natural to think short-term. This is where History can inspire. Visiting Deans Court and hearing the very mixed fortunes of the Hanham family, got me thinking about this question: “If I knew our dynasty would go on for at least another 500 years…” And then, “What if I could pass on some principles, values, traditions that I’d love to see kept in the family?” This question helped me think with an outer focus, a larger focus, and a longer focus.

Using free-thinking, I let my unconscious mind loose to make some suggestions. The first was, “Plant trees!”  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a family tree filled with members that had a passion for planting trees! Between Wimborne and Blandford, there is a very, very long avenue of Beech Trees – trees that are glorious to behold at any time of year. At 188 years old, they are a testament to long-term thinking since those who planted them knew their lifespan would not be long enough to enjoy the Avenue in its prime. Planting trees is a gift to future generations.

Seeing all of my granddaughters this week, I was able to explore with them what they valued the most. ‘Kindness,’ was the winner. Thus, if we had a dynasty that was committed to ‘Kindness’ as the top family value, and planting trees as something we were known for doing, that’s two giant steps forward for the Dynastic Master Plan. So, what about traditions? Do you have some distinctive Family Traditions that you’d like to see kept for generations? And how about heirlooms? Many of our wider family are excellent at choosing cards for all occasions. I would hope that this modest tradition would remain. We also have many artists, we are book lovers, and we have many writers. Here, I’m not talking about being famous but rather what we value in the tribe, the clan.

Deans Court and the Hanhams have not had an easy history, and the house has not passed directly from parents to children. When there have been no heirs, the succession has passed to cousins, and there have been many advantageous marriages to save the day! This is where you may have to think wider than direct family lines – and this is part of the thinking wider, bigger, larger, longer. If you were to direct, guide, inspire the direction of your broad dynasty – what would be important to keep, and what would be distinctive?

Lex

A Moodscope member