"Dear Self"

Santa Cruz Chronicles

Dear Self,

Good morning. I hope you got a good night’s sleep, because we have quite a bit to accomplish today. Well, today and everyday. Let’s establish a few things. Starting today, let’s promise to wake up at a decent time every morning, but sleep in when only truly necessary. Let’s determine each day’s priorities and stick to them with backbone. Let’s promise to make each day an adventure, but also stay true to our goals. Everyone has goals. But let’s make our goals PLANS. Let’s ignore the allure of the snooze button and jump into those running shoes which long to be filled. Let’s crank out that 5, or 7, or 14 mile run before work. That way we can feel satisfied, knowing that we have one less thing to do that day. However, setting aside time later in the day is perfectly fine too. Just so long as our legs get to enjoy a date with the road each day. Let’s also promise to nourish ourself justly so that we are energized and ready to take on each day with spunk and charisma. (And so that NO ONE passes us while running on West Cliff Ave./the Boardwalk/etc.)

Let’s allow each day to be a fresh start. Let’s not let yesterday’s lows affect today’s highs. Let’s not let words and images and material gain distract us from our daily and long-term goals. After all, they’re only words, and images, and things. Let’s promise to forget about what other people may say or think of us. Their opinions don’t matter. (The slanderous ones, that is). But let’s embrace both friends and foes with utmost respect, because everyone deserves to be greeted with a smile. Let’s also treat ourself with respect. We might as well since we only get one of us in this lifetime. Let’s promise to be the bigger person when the opportunity presents itself, and let’s never look for reward or something in return. Let’s live in the here and now, and never in the past. Let’s be the person whom we want to become, and not the person others think we should be. Let’s smile each morning we wake up simply because it’s a new day, and because we are loved.  

Sincerely, 

Me 

P.S. Let’s get a good night sleep tonight, because we have a lot to do tomorrow.