Being happy comes in so many forms and versions.  Many people overcome many issues to arrive at their happy life.  I recently watched a documentary on Hulu about Eleanor Roosevelt, and learned a number of things I never knew about her.  After doing more research, I learned even more.  Many people had to fight for their happiness, but I have to respect the path that she had to walk.  This is just part of the inspirational story of Eleanor Roosevelt.

I’ll leave it to you to research her earlier life, and her life beyond what I talk about here.  What I want to talk about, briefly,  is her marriage and family life.  Although it seems that she wanted to marry, she didn’t enjoy being a mother (1).   Think about the goals of women in her generation.  The goal of an affluent woman was to marry and have children.  They managed the household while the man of the house worked to support the family.  A women who didn’t marry had little protection or support.  They had to marry to survive, and contraceptives, like we enjoy today, was not an option.  She went on to have six children, but her relationship with them was questionable.

Her marriage included infidelity on her husband’s part, but it may have also included infidelity on her part.  There is speculation that she may have been in a lesbian relationship, and although it was never disclosed, her social relationships with women in her life were documented(1).  Living in her time, the idea of choices outside the norm was taboo.  She may have married and had children as was expected but she was also able to develop relationships and goals that likely fed her soul. 

She took on social issues of the day, including advocating for women’s issues, and African Americans, which was not popular in her time.  She was on the radio and wrote for a local paper.  She traveled, supporting her husband and assisted in his election to office.  In my readings, I got the feeling that her marriage didn’t bring her much happiness, but it allowed her to get into conversations that she may not have been a part of otherwise.  She used her platform to question the norm and even challenge it at times.  She etched out a life that worked for her, in spite of having to make choices that she didn’t enjoy.

I have talked about what’s possible, even in the face of sadness.  Eleanor Roosevelt was a trend setter and warrior during a time when her ideas and life choices were not popular.  She found a way to make a life for herself that worked for her, and was surrounded by people who were supportive and strong.  She stood by her husband after his illness and encouraged him to continue in his political career, when his mother was trying to get him to leave public life.  She was born with opportunity that others may not have been, but she seemed to use it to help others and fight for new ideas.

Eleanor Roosevelt is an inspiration to me.  I admire her strength to challenge norms and talk honestly about how she felt about being a mother and a wife.  I admire her ability to develop relationships that added to her strength and understanding of life.  In spite of obstacles in her life, she was able to create a life with friends and honor.  I believe that she was able to be happy, in life.

References:

1. Eleanor Roosevelt: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt
2. Eleanor Roosevelt: Woman’s History https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/eleanor-roosevelt
3. Eleanor Roosevelt: FDR Library https://www.fdrlibrary.org/er-biography
4. First Ladies Revealed: Trailblazers Season 1, Episode 4- Available on multiple platforms