In October of
2007, Brad Paisley wrote a song titled, “Letter To Me” and it became one of his
many hits. As typical of Paisley, his
lyrics are at times poignant and at other times comical; at times sentimental
and at other times a warning, mostly encouraging.
He wrote this
letter (song) to his seventeen year old self, an interesting time in
adolescence when kids wrestle with who they are or who they might be, and who
they might become. It is a time when
there are golden dreams and harsh realities, when sometimes a gentle hand is
followed by a not so gentle smack on a butt, because it seems that both are
needed every now and then: a gentle hand to let them know we care about them and
love them, and a smack on the butt to, well, let them know we care about them and
love them. Personally, I prefer the
gentle touch over a smack anytime.
During one of our
recent snow days when school was closed, I watched Good Morning America and on
it was a very nice segment that dealt with a before and now with the hosts of
the show. A picture of a time long ago
appeared next to a picture of near present day, and the host talked about what
they might tell their younger self if they had the opportunity.
Robin Roberts
counseled her younger self not to take herself so seriously, that things would
turn out in the end, and to be patient with herself, that we aren’t made to be
perfect, because mistakes will happen, do happen. George Stephanopoulos advised everyone that
the bumblebee striped Rugby shirt he wore in his younger self picture is now
out of style, which drew a laugh from his co-hosts, and he went on to advise
his younger self that what seems important at that time might not be so
important now, and to make sure to take the time to smile and laugh more.
Letter To Me.
Even though it has
been about two weeks since that GMA segment, it made me think. Probably even more since I heard Paisley’s
song a couple of times since that segment.
What would I say
to myself should I be given the opportunity to write a Letter To Me?
Hmmm . . .
I think I might
begin by telling myself to enjoy my hair while I have it, because it will
become much less and change from the dark brown to gray- that is, the little
amount of hair I actually end up with. I
might tell myself to enjoy and take care of the body I had then, because it
becomes all too easy to reach for the second (or third or fourth) cookie, and
to sit more than it is probably good for me to do.
But more
importantly, I would tell myself to watch my dad more often, to listen to him
more often- though he really wasn’t given to too many words. I would tell myself to be more patient with
my mom because she did the very best she could, given her life and her
circumstances.
I would tell
myself that those who are near and dear to me will one day leave: some because
they might take a different path, some because they might not have the need to
have me in their life anymore, and some because they pass away. Too many pass away. So, appreciate them while they are in your
life at that moment, in that time, and never ever be afraid to express that
appreciation with words or actions.
Like George, I
would tell myself to smile and laugh more.
Like Robin, I would tell myself to be patient because mistakes do and
will happen, sometimes at inconvenient and inopportune times. But I would also tell myself to never be
afraid of mistakes because it means that I’m trying, that I’m doing, and that I’m
actively involved in life rather than being just a passive spectator.
Like Paisley, I’d
tell myself that, the girl I thought I loved is nothing, absolutely nothing, because
I will end up marrying my best friend, and that I will have three wonderful
children with her. Like Paisley, I’d
tell myself that, “You've got so much up ahead; You'll make new friends; You
should see your kids and wife, And I'd end by saying have no fear, These are
nowhere near the best years of your life . . . And oh you got so much going for
you going right; But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night . . . I
wish you wouldn't worry, let it be; I'd say have a little faith and you'll see;
If I could write a letter to me; To me.”
Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
Great News! Shattered
Lives, the second book of the Lives
Trilogy, will be available on Amazon in eBook form on Friday, March 20, and
in paperback shortly thereafter. It
continues the storyline and journey that began with the prequel, Taking Lives, and with the first book
of the Lives Trilogy, Stolen Lives.
If you are
interested in taking this journey with me, you can find Taking Lives at http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Lives-Joseph-Lewis-ebook/dp/B00MG2JAWE/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HHJWXB9TJMYDW1VZRCS
Stolen Lives at http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Lives-The-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00PKKN6W4/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=09505ZZ1MQS2BTXMEN
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Thanks,
jl