Note To Self

 

Shirley J.                    Adult Non-Fiction                       Advice from the present you to your younger self  

Note to Self: Inspiring Words from Inspiring People by Gayle King    208 pages

The premise for this book is, if you could write a note to your younger self, what would you say?  On the t.v. show CBS This Morning, Gayle King does a segment titled Note To Self letters from people and celebrities read aloud that they have written to their younger self telling that young person basically not to worry it is all going to work out for you when you grow up.  The bullies, the self-doubt, even the abuse you are now enduring will not last forever and your strength of character will get you through the tough times of youth.  The letters from a war widow and the father of one of the children killed at Sandy Hook are so brave and full of loving advice on the heartbreak of those periods with the assurance they will be able to go forward one step at a time though the world feels like it is closing in.   Oprah speaks in loving terms to the little girl she was then being sexually abused from her pre-tweens through late teens, Chelsea Handler and Maya Angelou also give inspiring talks to their former selves often going through the same darkness no child should ever have to.  Joe Biden and Jimmy Carter give encouragement to the boys they were going through times when the nation was not tolerant of other races in the days before civil rights were enacted.   They tell their younger selves to stay the course and keep fighting the fight for their friends of all persuasions that equality is something worth fighting for and helping the people of this nation is their calling and they will be able to make a difference one day through politics.   So many topics are broached, a young gay man who finally comes out proudly telling his younger self he knows times are hard and taking the labeling of Fag and worse, the fear of being different will all settle itself one day and he will be playing in the NFL   Pain doesn't last forever, it just feels that way at the time.   So much good advice, caring conversations delivering hope for the future.   I would recommend this to middle-schoolers on up.