This is phase one of a guest blog from Springfield area Aunt, Emily Becker. I was touched when she shared the letters of advice written to her newborn niece, Amelia and nephew, Archer. We can all learn from each other at any age; so enjoy the advice from Aunt Em. What a special tradition to have this personal list for your children’s scrapbook and memory box. Thanks for sharing Emily! We will share the note to Archer on a future blog.
Amelia’s (aka Niecey at the time of her birth) Greeting 9/27/2012:
Happy Birth Day, Amelia Catherine.
In the event that my special little niece checks my Facebook timeline in a decade and a half for the day of her birth, I’d like to offer her some wisdom from my 26 years of life experience.
- Play as often as you can and as much as you can. Stop when it’s no longer fun.
- Give everything you have but do it for yourself. Giving with the expectation of receiving is not really giving at all.
- It really is the loveliest thing ever to be a woman.
- Be kind, always.
- Ask questions, but don’t pry.
- Do your best not to give anyone a reason to dislike you.
- Don’t speak badly of people; it’s unfair and those who hear your ugly words will associate them with you.
- Forgive, Niecey. Forgiveness is huge.
- Start with a “yes” (except when it comes to substance abuse, promiscuity, or a dangerous lifestyle choice).
- Apologize for: making mistakes, unintentionally hurting people, and tardiness (note: being yourself is not included in this list).
- Please don’t buy my unborn children beer.
- Also, while we are on the subject, be nice to my kids. You’ll probably be smarter and better looking than them, but they will be bigger than you.
- Fear is a very powerful emotion, Amelia. Don’t let it cripple your ambition; prevent a life you deserve; or serve as a roadblock for any element of your happiness. That which you fear is so often a key indicator of that which you most desire.
- And finally, love (in all its forms) really is all it’s cracked up to be. Be generous with it, brave for it, and open to it.
That’s all. I think we are going to get along great.
You’re loved beyond imagination,
Aunt Em
