Be Safe!

As your grandmother I want you to always be safe and protected.  But in life there are no guarantees.  Accidents happen and the best I can do is give you some little tips to protect yourself.  Some things are fundamental; like looking both ways before you cross the street, not talking to strangers, and not playing with matches.  But other things are more serious and you will need to use common sense and be prepared.  Here are my suggestions:

• Always wear a seat belt when riding in a car.
• Learn bike safety and always wear a helmet.
• When playing sports always wear safety gear.
• If a stranger confronts you and you feel threatened, run for safety.  If you can't run, yell for help.  Yelling, "Fire!" will normally get people's attention a lot quicker then calling for help.
• Learn how to dial 911 in an emergency and know your home address.
• When you are old enough take a CPR and First Aid class.  This way you are always prepared to help in an emergency.
• Learn Evacuation and Lock Down procedures.  When you are old enough to understand your parents and I will train you what to do in case of a fire, earthquake, or other emergency.  

This is by no means a complete list, but your parents and I will try our best to prepare you for most situations.  We love you and we want to keep you safe, by keeping you informed.

Be Who You Are Meant To Be

Don't try to be what you aren't.  Find out who you really are, and be the best you can possibly be.
As you grow up you will admire people who have a certain way about them.  Something that you find very appealing.  People who are popular, celebrities in the music or film industry, models, or even athletes.  You might want to be just like them.  So you begin to emulate them, by dressing like they do, acting like they do, and even talking like them.  The only problem is that you are not them.  You are you.  Take the time to find out who you are, not who others are.  The people that are self-confident are those that are being their best selves.  Find out who you are and be the best you possible.

Instructions for life

I found this many years ago and wanted to share it with you.  What wonderful advice.

                            Instructions for Life

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.           

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

20. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.

21. When you say, “I love you,” mean it.

22. When you say. “I’m sorry,” look the person in the eye.

23. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.  People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

24. Read between the lines.

25. Pray.  There’s immeasurable power in it.

26. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

27. Mind your own business.

28. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.  That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.

29. Remember that your character is your destiny.

Purpose of Life

It is my belief that the purpose of your life, in fact everyone's life, is to bring more LOVE into the world.  Everything else you do with your life is secondary.  When you grow up you might want success, fame, or to become a millionaire, and if you don't achieve it you could think yourself a failure.  However, if while pursuing this dream, you remembered to bring more LOVE into the world you would be a true success. It's the only success that will truly matter at the end of your life. 

It Doesn't Matter

It doesn't matter if you win or lose when doing something competitive.  Whether it's playing sports, auditioning for a play, competing in a spelling bee, or even playing Monopoly, what does matter is whether or not you did your best.  I say this because in life you are not always going to win, but if you gave it your all, you have nothing to be ashamed of.  You tried, and maybe you didn't win this time, but you might win next time.  Don't go into any competition thinking about whether or not you will win or lose, but go in knowing you are going to do your absolute best, and that alone will make you a winner.