Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Dear Children,

My babies.... for now (and through my eyes, forever). This is all for you. I am keeping this "journal" so that one day you can read about times that you may not remember. These are such precious times to me, and I want to share them all with you when you are older, so this was the best way for me to keep up with them. One day, I will turn this into a beautiful book that you can treasure forever. You'll be thankful for it one day.
My message to you is the same one that my mom's was to me. Her song to me was "I Hope You Dance." I remember I made her a scrapbook based on that song to show her that I am dancing (I don't think she ever worried about leaving me after that, which was my hope). And now I am making a journal to show you how we've danced and hopefully to inspire you to keep on dancing.
I will do my best to model this list for you for the rest of our lives:
Please go out there and do.

Live.

Don’t be the same as yesterday.

Don’t live vicariously through anyone or anything other than you.

Don’t use language that has no meaning or talk ideas you don’t really live.

Don’t hide.

Don’t copy others or live their ideas or life.

Don’t fear doing your thing.

Don’t fear doing.

Instead of reading a decorating magazine, paint that room.

Instead of thinking of baking, do up a cake.

Run, walk, bike.

Let go of the snark, your worries, your anger and fear and give into possibility, action, joy and life.

Do.

Do some more.

Stop thinking about you.

There’s a world out there to connect to, really connect to and email doesn’t count.

Being of use is more important than being popular.

Think about the lady down the street, the person at the drive through, the man fallen in the street, about politics, the environment, healthcare, another country and then do something about it.

Never stop at thinking.

Dream big, work harder.

Have lots of fun, lift a finger, do something for someone else.

Cheer your friends on.

Cheer yourself up.

Celebrate as much as possible.

Enjoy everything. Right now.

It’s OK to want more and do more but be present with where you are or who you are with.

Don’t rush the situation - even if it’s bad.

Move on when you can.

Don’t settle.

Try everything you can and get over everything holding you back.

Go outside.

Make a difference, make some change.

Don’t complain about someone unless you’re talking to that someone.

Don’t complain about a situation you’re not willing to make better.

They don’t have it better and you don’t have it worse.

Don’t make excuses, you’ll never see possibility if you do.

You’re smart and worth more than settling for a life of complaining and limitation.

Hope.

Hope more.

Give someone else hope.

Get healthy and contribute to a healthy environment.

Think about everything you do, you buy, you say.

Only be lazy on Sunday and even then, be conscious.

Rest is useful, giving up is not.

Live with a light heart.

Play more.

Remember what it’s like to be seven (this one is for the future)

Remember to listen to a seven year old because you just have more words and life experience, not necessarily more wisdom. (This one too)

Have more questions than answers and don’t put everything into words.

Sometimes just feel things and be. Be quiet more often, listen harder, talk exactly as you mean to.

Strive for your best and not what you think someone elses’ best is.

Follow through.

Don’t let others’ down.

Don’t let yourself down.

You are better than your circumstances.

Ask for what you’re worth.

Make magic happen don’t wish for it.

Don’t envy others’ lives, envy yours.

Live it fully.

Teach by example how to live well, how to be treated, how to be kind, how to be alive.

Do.

I can’t stress that one enough.

Take action on your life.

Make the change.

No more sulking, waiting, thinking, reading, talking about.

And I'll add the adage that's on every fridge magnet, but good advice: Live Life, Laugh Lots, and Love Forever

I love you guys always and forever,

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