Dear Mom & Dad,
Thank you so much for my lovely Christmas gifts! For Christmas you gave me:
1. An amazing pair of new boots. They are now broken in and I love them!
2. A heavy black sweater to hopefully keep me warm in Scotland.
3. That “Nina” by Nina Ricci perfume I’ve had my eye on since August. Every time I go into Bodybell I spray a little on and dream about buying it. When I checked out the sale’s lady asked me if it was a gift (aka did I need it wrapped). I said no and then corrected, “si, es un regalo… ¡para mi!”—yes, it’s a gift… for me. We both had a good laugh at that.
Thank you so much for my lovely Christmas gifts! For Christmas you gave me:
1. An amazing pair of new boots. They are now broken in and I love them!
2. A heavy black sweater to hopefully keep me warm in Scotland.
3. That “Nina” by Nina Ricci perfume I’ve had my eye on since August. Every time I go into Bodybell I spray a little on and dream about buying it. When I checked out the sale’s lady asked me if it was a gift (aka did I need it wrapped). I said no and then corrected, “si, es un regalo… ¡para mi!”—yes, it’s a gift… for me. We both had a good laugh at that.
While I loved all of these gifts, I loved the little Christmas package you sent even more.
The package was full of good music, candy canes and Christmas cheer (thank you for the ornament, Aunt Judy!). But best of all was the little booklet you included on “Courage.”
The package was full of good music, candy canes and Christmas cheer (thank you for the ornament, Aunt Judy!). But best of all was the little booklet you included on “Courage.”
I remember this series of booklets from my childhood. They are called “Elf-help” books and they feature drawings of cute little elves along with little bits of wisdom. They are silly but kind of neat. I immediately recognized the book, but this time around I am enjoying the little lessons…I think as a kid I mainly focused on the illustrations. I’ve decided to read one lesson on courage a day.
Yesterday, I was really struck by the lesson I read. You see, just last week I had a long conversation with my friend Shannon about the difficulties of owning who you are. I personally struggle with being myself, through and through. I like who I am…and yet, sometimes I find myself denying or hiding parts of myself depending on the company so that I seem more sophisticated, serious, cool, etc. I hate when I do this. I always scold myself later. I shouldn’t change who I am to fit who I’m with; I should always be myself and let the world decide whether to accept me for that or not.
Well, here is lesson #5 in the “Courage” booklet:
“Courage means daring to let your true self be known and be vulnerable. When you dare to let your true self out, you become alive and whole in your own eyes and the eyes of others.”
Yesterday, I was really struck by the lesson I read. You see, just last week I had a long conversation with my friend Shannon about the difficulties of owning who you are. I personally struggle with being myself, through and through. I like who I am…and yet, sometimes I find myself denying or hiding parts of myself depending on the company so that I seem more sophisticated, serious, cool, etc. I hate when I do this. I always scold myself later. I shouldn’t change who I am to fit who I’m with; I should always be myself and let the world decide whether to accept me for that or not.
Well, here is lesson #5 in the “Courage” booklet:
“Courage means daring to let your true self be known and be vulnerable. When you dare to let your true self out, you become alive and whole in your own eyes and the eyes of others.”
(Everyday-Courage Therapy by Linus Mundy)
Abs-o-lutely. I think this lesson will be one I read and remind myself of daily.
Thank you for the Christmas gifts, Mom and Dad. But thank you even more for the invaluable wisdom—both yours and the book's.
Love always,
Su hija Kate
Abs-o-lutely. I think this lesson will be one I read and remind myself of daily.
Thank you for the Christmas gifts, Mom and Dad. But thank you even more for the invaluable wisdom—both yours and the book's.
Love always,
Su hija Kate
8 comments:
I love that quote. I think I do a pretty good job standing by who I am, but I have the hardest time not being afraid of the reaction I will get. You know??
<3 you!
Merry Christmas my dear. Those lessons are life long and always "age appropriate" :-)
So glad that you are finding happiness and contentment in your own way!
Can't wait til we talk again on the phone. Our conversation yesterday was the high for my week.
Love you,
Daddy
It's so hard to really let our true selves be seen, isn't it? But I love that quote and it makes me want to try even harder to let people see who I really am!
I love you and I hope things are going well!
"I shouldn’t change who I am to fit who I’m with; I should always be myself and let the world decide whether to accept me for that or not." Geez, this is so true. I'm having a hard time with that with my new friends in STL. I feel like they don't get me sometimes, and then I get all worried and try to tone myself down. Then I feel miserable. I hate that I worry way too much. PS: I feel proud when I recognize those Spanish phrases without having to read your translation afterwards. Maybe three semesters of Spanish in college paid off. <3
can you use your awesome way with words to describe how that perfume smells? i am in desperate need of a new one. pretty sure i've been wearing the same one since ninth grade. i love it, but need a change.
i guess i could also stop being lazy and just go to sephora and smell it. but this might be more fun!
I just found your blog through busy bee lauren. You seem so sweet! Loved reading through your posts!
Just by the look of the bottle that perfume comes in, I think I would like it a lot. I love to read your blog! I read that post about homework being illegal in Spain. I told my cousins who are 10 and 7 and they said.. "NO WAY! I want to live there! I'm telling my Mom." haha
Merry Christmas Kate!
Merry Christmas Kate!
Nina by Nina Ricci perfume?! LOVE. It's my faaaaaaaaaavourite perfume EVER. And I love that quote! So beautiful <3
Jayde xo
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