Dare To Be Different
Dear Hilary
Let me start by saying that this letter is not going to be a roadmap to guide you through life by telling you which paths to follow and which to ignore. After all these years I know you too well to try to tell you anything; you will always believe that you know better than anyone else – and most of the time you will be right.
Rather, I am going to offer you some words of advice that will, I hope, enable you to make the most of the years that lie ahead.
Yes, there are pitfalls out there waiting for you to make a false step and end up flat on your face; and yes, you will stumble and fall many times. But no, I am not going to warn you where they are; making your own mistakes and learning from them is what will make you the woman I am today.
The most important counsel I can offer you is to have the courage to be yourself. Don't sink into the morass of mediocrity because you want to fit in. You are one of a kind: revel in your individuality and be proud to stand out from the crowd. Those who fit in simply disappear.
Just as you won't like everyone you meet, not all of them will like you. That is their loss, not yours. Spend time with those who love you for what you are, not with those who cannot accept you because of what you are not.
Trust your instincts. If something feels right, it probably is so have the courage to say yes. If it feels wrong, don't be afraid to walk away without looking back.
Don't dismiss those who are not as quick-witted or clever as you. Their talents may lie in other areas that are not immediately apparent. Inspiration can often come from surprising sources. And never assume that because something is blindingly obvious to you, it is instantly evident to everyone else. You are destined to spend a lot of time explaining things to those who lack your clarity of vision.
Life will bring times of enormous pleasure and great pain, inexpressible happiness and unspeakable grief. Enjoy them or endure them, but know that they will pass and leave you richer for the experience. When it all gets too much to bear, you will find great comfort in the beauty of the world around you. The natural order of the smallest things will restore your soul's equilibrium.
Life is good; life is precious; life is short. Embrace everything that it has to offer, so that when it comes to its inevitable end you regret only the things you did, not the things you didn't do.
Don't sit around waiting for the right time to arrive. There is no right time; there is only now, so get up, get out there and go, girl!