According to Grant, "As we approach any life transition--whether it's a first job, a second marriage, or a third child--we can pause to ask people what they wish they'd known before they went through that experience. Once we're on the other side of it, we can share what we oursleves should have rethought" (197).
For this challenge, write a brief "letter" to the person you were three or four years ago and share with them what you wish you had known back then. Include it in the comment box.
You may wish to check out some of the letters at dearpennfresh.com. Their letters are LONG. You are welcome to write a longer letter, too, but 150 words is the maximum that will count towards the word count for this assignment.
When you get your Honors Survival book at the kickoff in August, make sure you check out the advice the returning Honorables have to offer!
Dear Morgan,
ReplyDeleteI know how excited you are for what's coming, but it's okay to allow yourself to rest. Striving for perfection and academic validation can be rewarding, but your mental well-being cannot stand to be sacrificed or under appreciated. I remember when I was in your shoes, brimming with anticipation and nervousness, awaiting my first day of high school, the first year that counts. From now on, you can't make a mistake, lest you lose that number one rank. At least, that's what you think. I don't blame you, even today I crave for affirmation of my intelligence. Difference is, I've come to realize that the validation is more rewarding when it isn't paired with an obsession with perfection. You have time. Nothing and no-one is without fault, and that's okay. For without mistakes and errors, you wouldn't have gotten to where you are today, you wouldn't be the bright young woman that you are.
With love,
Morgan McClellan
Dear Emma,
ReplyDeleteI would like to tell you how proud I am of who you are and all that you’re doing. I am so sorry about all the things that have hurt you. I realize now that that made you so insecure. One piece of advice that I would give you is to work on being kinder to yourself. You are doing your best. Please feed yourself more and give your body rest. Do things for YOU. You are the only person that you’ll never get away from. To give you some hope for the future, things get better. You will be more confident and happier. That won’t be without some trials, though! I promise you will come out on the other side stronger than ever before. I still have a ways to go, but I am so proud of my progress. Push through babe! You can do this. I love you!
Dear Twan,
ReplyDeleteOh man, you're only 17 at the time when Im writing this. you are just about to start your senior year bro! Im so happy for you and Ill let your happy that you're not in vo-tech anymore! Im 21 when I'm writing this to you. Doesn't seem real does it bro? I know you're anxious about so much and that's okay! You're going to live, I promise, I mean Im typing this aren't I? Some thing I would share with you are to be happy man! We spent so much of our life sad over things that aren't even that big! Relax a little and enjoy all the moments to get to spend with everyone. That includes at school, on the field, in Geary, and your friends bro. Keep your morals as well, that's is where we are rooted in. Thats who we are. We were raised correctly and you need to stay on your good track! Keep doing good for people as well! Especially family. You have so many more people looking up to you than you know, and you're just going to meet more! Ive met some of the most important people to me in the last 4 years. Don't let being sad stop you from experiencing all I have so far! Be good to people and make good choices! I know I know, you're rolling your eyes, but Im so serious! Regardless, stick with what your doing and do it well! You're amazing and have so much to accomplish in this life!
With all the love I can give you bro,
Twan Yellowfish LPN
(I almost forgot to tell you, were a nurse bro!)
I hope this note finds you well and when you need it most. You are young and the trials ahead will be difficult, but there is no mountain too high for you when you have the right backing. Always write your plans out in pencil because you will be asked to reorder and rearrange your priorities many times and this can be difficult as you only have so many hours in the day. In this letter I will give you some advice on how to fit everything that is important to you into your day without neglecting the activities and people you love. I will do this by telling you a story about a jar, golf balls, a bag of rocks, a bag of sand, and a few beers. These objects seem completely unrelated in the grand scheme of things, but I will explain. The jar is representative of your life, and you must learn how to make all the other things fit inside it. Let us start with the golf balls. The golf balls represent the important things like your relationship with God, your family, your friends, your health, and your passions. The rocks are the other important things like your car, your job, and your home. They are still important but less so compared with the other important things. The sand represents all the other little things that you come across in your day-to-day life. Now there is only one way to make all these things fit within the jar representing your life. If you put the sand in the jar first, then the pebbles your will not have room for the golf balls. In other words, if you spend all your time and energy worrying over all the little things and the smaller important things you will not have time for the things that are crucial to your happiness. However, if you put the golf balls in the jar first, take care of the things that make you truly happy first, then add the rocks followed by the sand you will find that you can make everything fit. You may be wondering what the beers represent. They prove that no matter how full the jar representing life is you will always be able to find time to have a few drinks with friends. Now that that is explained, you will make many mistakes through the course of your life, but none of them will be so damaging that you cannot come back. It will buff. Everything will be okay in the end. Everything will work out always.
ReplyDelete-Jordan Odell