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Learning life’s lessons at the start

I am in the land of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” I am awaiting the birth of my granddaughter, who might actually be here by the time you read this.

I’ve been thinking about the world she is about to enter and things I’d like her to know as she grows and matures. And so

An Open Letter to My Granddaughter,

Dear Child of My Heart,

You have been born into an uncertain world, where values and morality have swung to the far reaches of the pendulum. Normalcy will return at some point, however, and even in a crazy world, some things never change. Love will always be with you, even if there are times you can’t feel it. Peace can be yours if you strive for it. And the world is your oyster, which means there are pearls to be found no matter where you are or what you do. Perhaps you will not recognize those pearls when you see them, but you will look back on your life and realize who and what they were.

Some things I’ve learned in my life:

Being kind never cost anybody anything. Compliment someone on how they look. Help out when someone is struggling. Tell your Mom and Dad you love them and appreciate what they do for you.

Smile. There are too few smiles in the world and yours will make it a better place. See people. The floor sweeper at the grocery store, the maid at the hotel, the person behind the counter at McDonald’s are people, too. Smile and say hello.

You never know how your attitude affects others. If you are angry and lash out, you may really have hurt someone without even knowing it. If you are happy, you may have changed someone’s day. Your actions and words are like ripples on the water. They are far reaching.

Be aware of your surroundings. Know how you got into a building and more importantly, know how to get out. Be safe, but don’t be afraid. Generally people will help others, but there are bad people in the world too. Learn how to tell the difference, as much as you can.

Not everyone will agree with everything you say. It’s OK. We aren’t required to think or act alike. We should be respectful of others, even though they may not respect us. They just weren’t taught right. If they cannot learn to respect others, walk away. You cannot change some people and it is best to just stay away from them.

Mistakes happen. Accept responsibility and try again. Some things can be corrected right away. Some take a while sometimes it takes a lifetime. Never give up.

Be the best you can be. And remember, I will always love you.

Robyn Near is a Ripley resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com

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