The lyrically gifted hip hop artist Common raps, “Dear Self, I wrote a letter just to better my soul / If I don’t express it then forever I’ll hold, inside / I’m from a side where we out of control”, in his the second verse of ‘A Dream’, featuring Will.i.am, from the critically acclaimed Freedom Writers
soundtrack. What would you write yourself today?
Dear Self,
There are times when no matter what I do – all you see outside are grey skies.
Sometimes your mind refuses to see me for what I’m truly made of – despite everything we have accomplished together.
There are times when everything I do refuses to work out for you.
There are times when you give up on me – and I refuse to fight for you.
There are times when my past remains your present, and our future in a prison of fear and self-doubt.
There are times you hold me hostage to the reality of our circumstance and refuse to hear, read or do anything to improve it.
What is this never-ending cycle of love and hate – highs and lows – ups and downs – I can and I can’t – I will and I won’t – I’m here but I’m not?
Despite our best efforts – we still come up short – but I’m not giving up on you.
See, we can’t get high without knowing well what is low. We can’t learn to love until we abruptly discover the deep wounds it causes. We can’t accomplish much of anything without the deep rooted desire to refuse to become much of nothing.
You don’t want to live a lonely, mediocre “I almost gave it my all” kind of life – and neither do I.
So help me help you live in the present in order to come in to the peace and prosperity we desire of our future.
I’ll remind you of the simple things. The potency and splendor music has on our soul. The wonder of creation – the sunrise and sunsets we take for granted (or sleep through) every day. The understanding that the best things in life are free – like hope, faith, perseverance, determination and the love of our family, friends and yes even pets – but we’ve got to give of ourselves, unconditionally, to appreciate the value of these freedoms.
Our freedom to choose. Our willingness to improve. Our ability to overcome any insurmountable obstacle – marching in step to the beat of our higher calling.
I’ll be your rock when everyone else gives up on you. I’ll carry your burdens when you feel the weight of the world is too much for you to bare. I’ll remind you we were destined for greatness – everyone is – remember, “every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of things that are to be” (Adlai Stevenson). Be the light – be the voice – be the positive influence and reap the rewards of a life of purpose.
It’s here, from the highest peak we can possibly climb – that we’ll finally get it. Here we will appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that facilitated our rise to greatness – meditate on them long enough to truly value our success – and begin our next trek up an even higher mountain.
See you soon.
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