Ever wonder what it would be like to take unsolicited advice from your 'younger self?'
It happened to me. And, turns out, my 22-year-old self was pretty darn perceptive.
After rummaging through an old journal, circa 1998, a folded up piece of paper with a typewritten message found its way into my hands. It lived there untouched, and unread for more than a decade. While the page's edges were tattered, the message was crystal clear.
Here's what I found:
"Mock Graduation Speech" (March 14, 1999)
Ladies and Gentlemen - always be strong.
Be Sure to put on your bluest power suit and to wear your pearly whites - Don't forget to smile.
Breathe.
Look people in the eye and give them a reason to respect you.
Put on your fight face when necessary, raise your fight voice when you want to seem strong.
But never, ever let them see you sweat.
You're the only one who will have to clean up the mess anyway.
Live each day to the fullest, smell the air, smell the garbage, taste the dirt -- and know that in the end, it will be air and dirt that surround you.
Keep your composure, lengthen your fuse.
Do not spontaneously combust in the face of the guy [or girl] who broke your heart, this week.
Eat your vegetables, your mother knew what she was talking about.
Eat your candy, especially chocolate... and lots of it... it may or may not be good for you, scientists are not sure.
But everything is good in moderation.
Sometimes tears and sometimes laughter... maybe anger.
The only thing I do know for sure is - Smile,
and always be strong.
© Melanie Kron, Kronfusion, 1999-2016
It happened to me. And, turns out, my 22-year-old self was pretty darn perceptive.
After rummaging through an old journal, circa 1998, a folded up piece of paper with a typewritten message found its way into my hands. It lived there untouched, and unread for more than a decade. While the page's edges were tattered, the message was crystal clear.
Here's what I found:
"Mock Graduation Speech" (March 14, 1999)
Ladies and Gentlemen - always be strong.
Be Sure to put on your bluest power suit and to wear your pearly whites - Don't forget to smile.
Breathe.
Look people in the eye and give them a reason to respect you.
Put on your fight face when necessary, raise your fight voice when you want to seem strong.
But never, ever let them see you sweat.
You're the only one who will have to clean up the mess anyway.
Live each day to the fullest, smell the air, smell the garbage, taste the dirt -- and know that in the end, it will be air and dirt that surround you.
Keep your composure, lengthen your fuse.
Do not spontaneously combust in the face of the guy [or girl] who broke your heart, this week.
Eat your vegetables, your mother knew what she was talking about.
Eat your candy, especially chocolate... and lots of it... it may or may not be good for you, scientists are not sure.
But everything is good in moderation.
Sometimes tears and sometimes laughter... maybe anger.
The only thing I do know for sure is - Smile,
and always be strong.
© Melanie Kron, Kronfusion, 1999-2016