From May 10 – 19, I will be participating in Momalom‘s Five for Ten. The next ten days will provide an opportunity for bloggers to connect in a meaningful way by writing about the same topics and having discussions across a number of blogs.
I am really excited to participate (and you can too; just click the button for more details). Courage is the first of five topics and I have written a Letter to Q.
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Dear Q,
Have the courage of your convictions. Remember that what you know to be true is more important than what you have been taught to believe. Know your worth and have the courage to trust it.
This world will try to convince you of your inadequacy. It will condition you to respond to and crave praise, validation, and recognition. It wants you to conform to its expectations because that makes you more predictable and manageable. It wields incredible power and seeks control.
You are powerful beyond measure. You have the power of your self, your mind, and your feelings. You have power over your reactions, your choices, and your expectations.
This world I know will teach you to believe that you need others to prove your worth and that you need others to define your success. You hold that power. You define your success; your worth is intrinsic.
Don’t be afraid of rejection. It’s subjective and relative and never about you. Choose courage. Put yourself out there; follow your passions, your dreams and your heart. Believe in the power of you and have the courage to be your best.
In Illusions, Richard Bach wrote “I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going.”
What you are clinging to? Why are you clinging? Why are you afraid to let go? Trust the current, for the current is your immeasurable power. It will take you to your true desire if you have the courage to let it. It will set you free if you believe in it. It will give you peace if you release yourself from the fear of rejection.
Choose courage and allow your self the freedom to be.
Love always,
Mom
Sarah, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (and probably again, and again), but he is so very lucky to have you as his mother. These are amazing lessons that you teach him, he will grow up with better understanding than most children, most adults and that is a true gift. It’s courageous to speak of these things with him, to try and make a difference on such a profound level.
“You have the power of your expectations,” gosh, I wish someone had taught me that.
I think all of us need to read this letter
I’m pretending my name was in the “Dear…” line and not Q – totally selfish, but this was such a powerful lesson, to be remembered.
Thank you
Again another amazing post. You truely have a way with words and a way of putting thoughts into those words.
I can only hope that I am teaching my boys these same lessons through actions if not words.
I love, LOVE all of your letters to Q. You are a wise woman and Q is so very lucky to have you as his mother.
I may have to print this out as a letter to myself! Beautiful and so true; full of wisdom. Q is a very lucky child to have such a present and wise mother.
Thank you, Alisha!
This letter is beautiful. Q is very lucky!
Choose courage and allow your self the freedom to be.
That is a fantastic sentence. It should be on a refrigerator magnet. Inspirational.
I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment, and this post is beautifully written. How lucky your child is to have a mom that can so aptly describe the advantages of being true to yourself!
Thanks for these amazing words of encouragement! Like the others here, I was imagining that you were writing this letter to me!
I’m sure Q appreciates these amazing words. I’m going to look back and read some more! Thanks!
These are wonderful words to give your child. And to live by.
If Q is able to actualize even one of these sentiments, he is going to be way ahead of the game. With you as his mom, I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll have no trouble doing so.
Thanks for sharing this powerful letter, Sarah.
Wow, Kristen. That means a lot. Thank you!
Sarah – these are extraordinary words. A letter I wish was written to me while I was growing up. Your son is lucky to have you to guide him.
So glad to have found you through Momalom’s 5 for 10.
I am glad you found me, too! Momalom is bringing so many of us together. What a gift!
I too, am pretending that this post was written for me and not for Q. And also pretending that my own mother wrote it. It is powerful. Your words have power. You have power of SELF. Wow!
This if my first time here — I’m so thankful to for Five for Ten.
The Bach quote you include here is so powerful, as is your entire letter to Q. I think I really needed to read this today. Thank you.
What a beautiful letter. We all should take your lead and write a similar letter to our own children. Courage is so important and should not be called upon only for BIG things. Courage is needed every day for the little things, too. This is so lovely. Really. And I think I might need to think about drafting my own letter. Or series of.
Yes, I have a series of Letters to Q on a number of topics. I write them when I feel inspired. Many thanks to you and Sarah for inspiring this one!
Great idea. Every one could use a letter of encouragement now and then. =)
I think this letter speaks to most of us. The part about rejection is screaming at me, actually.
Oh, I think I cling to so many things, just as my son clings to me when he’s shy. Your post reminds me of the adage “Get out of your comfort zone.” It’s hard to do it, but it’s also liberating and important. Usually, I’m glad I did it, if not for the actual experience, then for the growth I incurred.
Wonderful letter – I want to print it and hand it to all 3 of my kids. And an extra copy for myself. Thanks for sharing it!
I would be honoured if you did that. Thanks, Cindy.
Amazing letter. I love that your son will be able to pull this letter out and read it. This is such a great gift. Thanks for sharing.
“Trust the current, for the current is your immeasurable power. It will take you to your true desire if you have the courage to let it.”
Courage comes from forgoing fear and embracing trust. It isn’t easy but it is very worth it.
Beautiful letter, one I hope your “Q” reads some day.
Sarah, there is nothing that I can add that hasn’t already been said. This was truly one of the most inspiring, beautiful letters I’ve ever read from a mother to a child. Thank you for these words and wish I could be with Q when he reads it for the first time and truly understands it. Love it.
Thanks so much, Becca. I don’t know when he’ll be old enough to understand the words – and fully comprehend their meaning, but the letters will be waiting for him when he is.
I have a mirror that says “YOU GO GIRL!” around the frame. This is the letter that goes with that banner. So empowering!
I am going to save this for the right time and read it to each of my boys. Very well said.
Wow, what an honour! So humbling. Thank you.
What a beautiful letter and wise advice to your child.
Seriously Sarah, this was pure awesome. But I expect nothing less from you woman.
This is a beautiful, rich letter. Full of metaphor and practicality and affection. I love the bit about clinging. We all cling. To our pasts. To our fears. To our illusions. Imagine the power we would have if we just allowed ourselves to let go?
Lovely stuff.
Wow. Beautiful!
Stopping in from SITS.
Your words are so powerful. I hope my children exit their childhoods with at least one of these mantras wrapped around their cores.
But I want to print this out for my own mother, who has struggled her entire life with every sentiment. I want her to know — no, to believe — that she can trust in herself and the legacy she has created.
Beautifully written. Everyone of us could use a copy of this in our pocket for emergencies.