Hi Children,
This month I wanted to write to you about something a little bit more serious. It’s about finding people to look up to in our lives. This is really important to help motivate each of us to strive to do better in our own lives. The fun thing about finding traits in people around us that we admire is that there is no age limit, race or religious restrictions on the good in others. We can find good in people of all kinds.
Now, admiring someone does not also mean we become jealous of that person, or of that person’s good fortune. It also does not mean that we treat them as if they are royalty, giving them special priviliges or special treatment, because that can cause them to have inflated egos. Do you know what an ego is? It is what we think of ourselves. Imagine if a person is getting treated as if they are more important than any other person in the room day in and day out, how they might begin to believe they actually are more important than others. That is not a healthy way to think. We are all important in our own ways. You can probably see how we have to be careful about how we admire others, remembering that all people have their strengths and their weaknesses.
Can you think of something about yourself that you see as a strength? If you are not sure, maybe ask a good friend because I bet they can tell you. Can you think of something about yourself that you see as a weakness? Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay! Weaknesses only tell us there are areas in our character that we might want to work on to improve.
A strength of mine would be that I write very well. I can write letters and messages on social media that are interesting and meaningful. A weakness would be that I seem to feel easily hurt by people if they say or do something that bothers me, and I feel angry. I don’t like feeling hurt and angry, and this weakness in me is something I want to work on.
I feel so fortunate that I have had so many people come into my life that I have admired. I have learned something different from each of them, and I have used the special lessons and examples they have shown me to help me grow into a good and kind person.
People who I have admired in my life include a teacher from my teenage years. This teacher was a coach for my sports - basketball, and for track and field where I threw the discus and the shot put. These two sports are from the ancient Olympics, and not all that popular today. I admired him because he was so much fun to be around, and because the manner in which he taught me things was easy for me to understand. He convinced me that I was smart enough to go to university when no one else in my family had ever been. He gave me so much confidence in myself to go on further in my education, that I not only went to university, but I also went on to school to become a teacher.
Another person I admired in my life was my grandmother, my father’s mother. She was such a loving and kind woman, who enjoyed playing the piano, singing, and baking. She baked two loaves of bread every morning to help feed all of us. Her rhubarb custard pie was absolutely the best pie in the world. Do you know what rhubarb is? It grows near the ground on long red stalks with huge green leaves. The stalk is the fruit that we eat. Grandmother taught me so much about love and family. She taught me that you can learn a new craft like baking just by experimenting and sharing ideas with other people.
Another person I admire is my mental health doctor. She helped me when I was feeling very sad and lonely. She listened to me and allowed me to share some very scary stories with her, and she never judged me or made me feel embarrassed about the terrible things that went wrong in my life. She gently advised me on ways I could overcome my sadness, and she encouraged me and reminded me that I am special, too. I admire how intelligent my doctor is, and how kind she can be, too. I try to remember her examples of patience and kindness when I am struggling with a friend or family member. I am really grateful for her in my life.
My sister is also someone I admire. She is one of the bravest people I know. She will try any new thing, even if she isn’t very skilled at it, and work really hard to learn about it. She is also a good listener, so when I need someone to talk to, we can video chat over the internet, and laugh and cry and be silly together if we need to. I admire how strong and courageous my sister is, and I try to use her example whenever I am afraid to try something new.
The members of this writing team are also people I admire. When I read their letters written to you children, I sometimes laugh right out loud. I often think very long about what they have shared with all of you in their letters, and I picture all of you enjoying their written words. I also think the letters remind each of you of how loved and important you are. That is so important to remember. I use the examples of letters written by our team members to inspire me when I am writing.
I also admire Shelley, or grandmother to most of you. Shelley’s deep commitment to your shelter is an inspiration for many, many volunteers here in Canada. She is the glue that keeps all of us working together, and she works tirelessly for all of you. Whenever I am feeling like a task is too hard, or the challenge is too great, I remember Shelley’s perseverance in keeping Hearts for Ethiopia moving ever forward.
And finally, I admire EACH of you. Many of you have known difficult times in your lives, often more difficult than any of us can even comprehend. Yet, you show up day after day with smiles on your faces, songs on your lips, and a true dedication to your school work and community. I am simply amazed by all of you. Tefsa and Kal have the most beautiful family of children in each of you. Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself over any petty little thing, I think of all of you, of all you have overcome, of how hard you work for each other, and of your love for one another. That is a great inspiration to me, and it causes me to step up for others in my own life and do better for them.
I know my letter didn’t mention our fall weather, or anything in particular about Canada. This month, I just wanted to share with you something that is important to me, and something that we can all learn from. I hope this message allows each of you to think a little bit about who around you inspires you, and why that is so. I hope you can know that there is probably someone looking at you, seeing the special part of you that shines so bright, and that they take inspiration from your spark.
Always remember, children. You are loved.
Sincerely,
Patti
Friends INK!