Dear Elli,
Today's letter is about something that has been on my mind a lot lately. It is a philosophy that I hope will soon re-emerge as a foundation of our society and live on in you and your peers: responsibility and common sense.
Now I know this is all really nothing new. However, I am going to share with you some of the ideas that I believe to be true, and they will all lead back to, you guessed it: responsibility and common sense.
1. You, and only you, are responsible for your behavior. Your actions are a result of your decisions, not anyone else's. If you make a bad decision, regardless how terrible it may be, it should not affect the rights or responsibilities of others. It is your mistake alone. The majority should never pay for the mistake of one, or even a few.
2. The world owes you nothing, and the only thing your country owes you is a fair chance and the opportunity to follow your dreams.
3. You owe the world nothing. However, you owe yourself the opportunity and the hard work required to be your best. This alone will improve the world.
4. Some people are good and some people are bad. Most people are a combination of both. Our common sense and sense of responsibility are the basis for which direction we choose to move.
5. Hysteria is never a foundation from which to make important decisions or choose new directions. Hysteria is powerful, but also very dangerous. It does not possess common sense.
6. To me, you are the most special person in the universe. To the universe, you are as special as everyone else. I am not the universe, and neither are you.
7. You deserve credit for participation, but you do not deserve reward. You deserve reward for success. Participation is expected. Reward is earned.
8. Personal growth comes from disappointment, struggle, and failure. They are the keys to growth, and therefore success. We must learn to embrace the necessity of these personal discomforts. They should not be avoided and we should not seek protection from them for ourselves or for our children.
9. We should not worry so much about what we are and think more about who we are.
10. If we are successful in life, however we choose to define success, it can often be credited to a combination of hard work, persistence, natural ability, the support of others, and good fortune. When we achieve success, it should be with the knowledge that we are blessed, and not with arrogance and the self righteous attitude of a fool. Success can crumble as quickly as failure can be overcome. Never forget this lesson when you have the urge to gloat or bask in your own brilliance, as it can disappear in the blink of an eye.
These 10 ideas are certainly not mine alone, but rather shared by many. I realize some sound harsh, but that doesn't take away from their truth. These things are the fundamental truths that direct me in life. I am not so arrogant to believe I am always right, but I know we could improve as citizens, parents, and individuals if we could all better exercise both responsibility and common sense.
I love you.
Mom
Comments