Here we are at the last page of Maya’s graduation book. It is filled with 30+ pages of her favorite colors – pink and blue – with words of wisdom as she moves into the next phase of her life. With this being the last page, I pondered long and hard about how to sum it all up. How to leave her with words that would help bring meaning to every bit of becoming…and of course. Dr Seuss was the best source. These words have appeared in many of my pieces, so let’s cherish them one more time:
Be who you are and say what you feel.
– Theodore Geisel alias ‘Dr Seuss’ 1991
Because those who mind don’t matter,
and those who matter don’t mind.
No matter who you are or how long you live, people will always want to tell you how to behave, how to think, how to spend your money, and what is important for you to do. Opinions are like belly buttons – everyone has one and wants to show it off! KNOW who you are, what is important to you, and let what other people want you to do slide right off your back. The people who you can trust most deeply will cheer you on and on…because those who matter don’t mind!
Cheers to you for having a big goals, big dreams, and the courage to pursue them. Some days you will walk with your head held high, ready to tackle anything to world throws your way. And on other days, it will be all you can do to get out of bed and brush your teeth. Both of those days are important in your life and they prepare you for what’s coming next. No matter how much you plan, organize, save, and double check your list…life will ALWAYS throw you a curve ball. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned. And if you think about it, that’s a very good thing. How boring would life be if we could have it all figured out by the age of eighteen?
Life is an adventure to be experienced, to fumble through, and to grow towards becoming the woman you want to become! Who you are today is the foundation of the woman you will become in the future; you are at the beginning not anywhere near your end product. If you play your cards right, all along your journey, for decades and decades you will be learning, changing and growing into the best version of yourself. And when the days come along where you don’t want to face what’s happening in your life, remember those who matter – who REALLY, REALLY MATTER – don’t mind…even if you don’t brush your teeth!
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