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Dearest Vanessa ,
In the summer of 1990 when you were 3 months old, your Mom and I took you on a journey through Portugal and Spain . I remember distinctively walking through the Chapel of Bones in Evora , Portugal and marveling at an entire room made out of human bones – mostly thigh bones, stacked by the tens of thousands to make the walls. I thought about all those lives, all their hopes and dreams, and the difficulties of times in which they lived. And I remember sitting in the plaza and writing in my journal some 18 years ago about what wonderful and exciting things must await you in your lifetime. If you reflect historically on an average lifetime of 70 – 80 years, you realize all the incredible changes that have occurred since 1910. Then, project time forward to all the amazing events you will probably witness in your life (including the return of Halley's Comet in 2061) and it staggers the imagination……. And today, as you reach an early milestone in your life's journey, graduation from high school, I wanted to sit down again and share some thoughts and wishes for the future. What wonders await my young star!
First and foremost, I would wish you health, both mental and physical. It is the quality most often taken for granted yet without it, life's other pleasures pale in comparison. You may often reflect on certain of your qualities which you can attribute to your Mom or your Dad, some of those which you would like to change, but in the overall analysis, (in the words of one of my former English teachers) you have "clean genes"; ones which will at times vex you but for the most part, will sustain you well and be the source of much pleasure in your lifetime. Take good care of you.
I wish you happiness. Happiness is the feeling you have as you move toward your goals. About goals: See setbacks as temporary – the lessons of life. Learn from those lessons. See possibilities in place of problems. Picture success. Say positive things to yourself. Surround yourself with happy people – ones who will help you reach your goals. Life is a journey – not a destination; but have a destination – be self-directed. Set goals for yourself – both short and long term - write them down. In all areas of your life, personal, professional, spiritual, family, and friends - have goals – they will drive the happiness in your life.
I wish you a lifetime of learning and a treasure chest of opportunities. May you draw strength and satisfaction from what you know and do well but may you also be open to those things you find challenging. Some of life's greatest satisfactions come from overcoming great odds and succeeding at those things you didn't think you could do. Be flexible.
May you work at a job you love – one where you look forward to going to work and seeing the people you work with.
I wish you great adventures.
I wish you love. To love and be loved is life's greatest adventure.
Know that others are mirrors of you and that you cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.
May family and family traditions give you a multitude of great memories and love, adding lasting value to both your life and their's.
I wish you an appreciation of life, of nature and the incredible world we live in and I hope you find a way to serve others and to help make this world a better place to live.
I hope you have fun and laugh often.
I wish you good friends – those who appreciate you for who you are, who add color to your life and with whom you share many fond memories.
I wish you faith, not only faith in yourself and your own capabilities but also faith in others and in a power greater than yourself. And in your faith may you find the serenity to change the things you can, accept the things you can't and the wisdom to know the difference. Take time to know and nurture your spirit.
I wish that in your knowledge and experience you find wisdom. And when you find it, I hope that you will share it with others and help them discover the wisdom in themselves.
I wish for you to know yourself – to have a clear sense of who you are and where you want to go. And know, whatever path you choose, your Mom and Dad will always love you.
And when Halley's comet returns, look in the sky, think of me,
and know that you will forever be my shining star.
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