To my exes,
I couldn't just choose one of you to write this letter to. There have been 8 of you, and you've all taught me some important lessons about life, relationships, and my own expectations for the people I choose to date. I don't want to drone on in this post and waste time; if I wanted to talk to you or pursue our relationships further, I already would have. I am thankful that I've been able to maintain a relatively good friendship with most of you since our breakup. I'm never one to be bitter over things that didn't work. At the end of the day, people are in your life to either be a blessing, or a lesson. When you get lucky, they are both- for a short time, you all served as "blessings" and the following are numbered lessons you taught me. Thank you. 1). You taught me that respect is a bare minimum in a relationship. You taught me that I am worth more than the time you allotted for me. You taught me to value small moments when they don't come around often. You also taught me that males can be more dramatic and emotionally fueled than females. 2). You taught me that sometimes, you should believe what you hear about people. You taught me that some lessons don't have to be learned the hard way, but most importantly, you taught me to value myself above anyone else. 3). You taught me that sometimes, friendship is more valuable than a relationship. You taught me that trust is essential, and that it can decay and wear down over time. You taught me that some things, are worth letting go. You taught me forgiveness and peace. 4). You taught me that I cannot be the only heart-breaker. You taught me loss in a relationship. You taught me patience and understanding, and made me realize that feelings aren't always reciprocated. You taught me to be careful of who I give my heart to. While there isn't a number for each of you, please understand that you each taught me something in your own way. Some things are just too small to list, or too small to remember. The fact remains that without the experiences I had with you, I wouldn't be exactly who I am today. Thank you for helping me grow as a person. I can only hope I did the same for you. - Maddie
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Dear whomever this may concern,
I might not know you, but I'd like to thank you for taking the time to find and read this blog. It means a lot to both me, and my family. Now that that's out of the way- I'd like to speak to you about life. I'll make the assumption that you've come to this blog through quotes. Many of the posts found here are all motivational or inspiring quotes, with the thoughts of my dad or I listed below. My sister hasn't begun writing about quotes yet, but over time, I'm sure they'll start to appear in her writing as well. We choose to write about quotes because all of us are thinkers- and we all love expanding upon and examining the ideas of others. I believe some of the greatest ideas can come from looking at the thoughts of those who have gone before you. It gives a new perspective of life, or at least, the aspects of life. I won't make this letter long-winded. No one wants to read pages of nonsense from someone they don't know. Or maybe I'm wrong- after all, you did find this page of our blog. I ask you to please take your time in reading the posts you find here, as most of them do indeed try to impart wisdom, or at least introduce a newer way of thinking. In most of my writing, I try to promote positivity. To me, happiness is an essential part of life, and I am always seeking it. Happiness is not a state to dwell in, but rather an ongoing adventure that must be sought after on a daily basis. Those who believe that finding happiness once equates to a lifetime of happiness are almost guaranteed to be let down. So, every day I try to look for something to make me happy. Oftentimes, it's quite easy- I live in a beautiful and scenic area of New Hampshire, and there's almost always natural beauty to be found. I take joy in flowers, animals, sunsets, and even cloud formations. When I get stressed, I enjoy sitting out on my front porch and listening to the wind, or taking a hike through the woods that surround my house. As the day comes to an end, I enjoy watching the sunset with the people I love, and if the weather is nice and the sky clear, I also enjoy stargazing. And that's just the happiness I find in nature... there's so much more in life that brings me joy. I'm sure that there are many things in your life that bring you joy as well, reader. In an effort to remind yourself that happiness is an everyday goal and not a once-in-awhile occurrence, I ask you to list 5 small things that can make you happy on a daily basis below. Don't be such a stranger. Happiness can be quite telling. - Maddie Dear Maddie, I know that sometimes it does not go how you want it to. Dude, I'm the same! I know what it feels like to be left out. It feels lonely. I hope we can get along day after day, after day.
Maybe we could hang out every Saturday and Sunday. Then on the rest of the days you could hang with Seth. I wish I had a boyfriend. WHY DON'T YOU READ MY BLOG POSTS!? Seriously why? Tell me now! I will do any thing. I'm not joking. Any way, meet me in my room every night. I want to talk with you. Ashleigh Today we have a guest post from Mountain Rants reader, Ginger, who has responded to Maddie's Letter Challenge. Originally written in the comments section, we have moved it to a guest post because it is a beautiful letter and should be enjoyed by all.
Thanks Ginger! The Mountain Rants Editors ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your letter inspired me to write my own. Here goes...3 Dear Dreams, Hear me out. I know this may seem a bit long winded and it's stuff you already know, but it wasn't so long ago that I finally figured you out. Dreams, you are like the gilt edged ribbons on the presents we get. The gauzy ones with the edge of gold that make the bow stand up and dazzle—like it’s saying, “Look at what I might be.” In much the same way, Dreams, you are the harbinger of “what might be” in my life. I confess; I am a dreamer—never to be confused with a daydreamer. Daydreaming is the fluff on the periphery of my mind. You, Dreams, start in the center of my brain and lodge in my soul. On the one hand, daydreaming is like a sailboat without a rudder, a vessel aimlessly carried by the wind. You, Dreams, on the other hand, have been greatly responsible for plotting the course of my life. My crazy faith in you, Dreams, is not unfounded. You are the stuff, not fluff, of my reality. As a kid, I dreamed of horses. My earliest recollection is of me at four, the youngest of three children, with a widowed mother and a father I don't remember, riding a radiator in a second floor apartment. Dreams, you were my rudder or, more aptly, my reins, and at seventeen “city kid me” with my newbie driving license bought a horse and drove fifty miles at night to care for it. Thanks to you, Dreams, my passion became a reality. Two more horses to follow, and it has both literally and figuratively been a great ride. Now I'll fill you in on the stuff you'd have no way of knowing. Only recently I've realized not to become complacent about “dreams realized.” Passions realized are not endings but rather the impetus to invite you to coffee, a walk in the woods, or out in a boat on the ocean. When one dream becomes a reality, it's time to start dreaming again. I had a dream of catching a big fish and landed a thirty-five pound striped bass which led to a seventy pound marlin. And because you are such a task master, Dreams, I've started strength training so I can land a tuna. I totally understand; dreams without work are merely daydreams. Yup, you're like the gilt edged ribbon on the present. Sometimes what's under the lid is a disappointment, but, more often than not, it's more than I ever could've dreamed of. Thank you from the depths of my soul, Ginger DISCLAIMER: I'm writing this to my dreams, meaning my aspirations, goals, etc. If you'd like to take this prompt a different way when writing your letter, you can feel free too.
Dear Dreams, You've always been a part of me. No matter my age, no matter my mood... you've grown up with me, you've evolved with me, and it's been fascinating to see how you've changed. When I was little, I had a passion for baking. You gave me hope that I could one day open and manage my own bakery, you gave me something to look ahead on based on my current interests. Naturally, this was a dream that would change as I got older... but for what it was when I was young, it was a nice fantasy that gave me practice in planning ahead. As I got older, my interests shifted. I grew more concerned with the world around me, and for awhile, you died out. You weren't present on the surface of my life, existing only in the back of my mind as I searched for a new interest. When my mom passed away in 2013, you came alive- giving me fresh hope and lighting the way for me to a better understanding of myself. You showed me my purpose, and you rekindled my dying hope so that I could see that I was meant to help people. You made me aware that I'd been doing it for most of my life. Today, my dream is to become a licensed therapist or psychologist. That's a crazy leap from a baker, right? But to you- it doesn't matter. You're there to drive my interests and my passions, and to give me hope so that I never give up on opportunity... and you haven't failed me yet. Thank you for subtly guiding me and for keeping a positive hold on my mental state throughout my exploration of life. - Maddie Dear Ashleigh,
I'm sorry. That's the first thing I want to say, and please know that I mean it. I know that sometimes it may be hard for you to see just how much I care about you, but I hope you know that I do. I'm sorry for my short temper, cynical attitude, and often harsh demeanor. I apologize for seldom dropping to your level, and I'm sorry that I can't understand a lot of what you say and do. Often times, I can only see or hear something from my own level of perception... and our perceptions differ greatly, causing much interference and miscommunication along the way. As you get older, I hope we can harmonize more. Already, I can see where we're similar- our burning passions for things we love, our similar hobbies, our generally cheery exterior and our knack for finding happiness in life's smaller moments. I also notice our distaste towards mathematics in general, and a similar taste in good music (i.e. heavy metal, old rock, death metal, etc.). As you get older, I hope you'll come to realize why I am sometimes how I am with you, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for some of what I've done. I'm already beginning to forgive myself, in preparation for the day we can talk normally to each other about life's ups and downs. In all, you're a bubbly, outgoing, and brainy seven year old who is un-apologetically herself- that's a beautiful trait to have, and I hope you never lose it. Never cave into society's wants, needs, "requirements", or anything else; it's always more worth it to stay true to yourself, true to your dreams, and most importantly, true to your happiness. I love you. - Maddie Dear Dad,
I'll be honest, I don't even know where to begin with this letter. I have so much that I want to say, and no idea how I want to say it- but you already know how quickly my mind jumps around, so I guess you'll understand. You've been my best friend for longer than anyone else, and though our relationship does have its ups and downs, so does every relationship and our arguments never do last long. We can always talk things out and forgive each other, or at least come to an even ground- and I appreciate that. Plus, I'm happy to say that our arguments are far outweighed by amazing memories, corny jokes, and more recently, spams of memes. One of your best qualities is the fact that you can always make me laugh, and even when you can't, you're still trying to. Not many people actively try to make people laugh, but you always seem to have a remark or a joke for any situation, and it's great. I'm quite thankful that I inherited your sense of humor, or at least parts of it that I've been able to build off of. I may not be as prolific with movie quotes yet- but I'm getting there. One day, I promise I'll be able to understand almost any line you throw at me. I just need to find the time to watch some of the older movies. All joking aside, I'd like to thank you for the vast expanse of knowledge you've given me and helped me to grow. I know you're proud of my school grades, but you've taught me so much more than that. In fact, I'm more thankful for all the life lessons you've taught me than the scholarly knowledge! You've taught me logic, reason, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, loyalty, honesty, honor, humor, and so much more- those were just what I thought of in a span of 10 seconds. The list goes on, that much I know. All of what you've taught me are essential to living a good life, in my opinion, and I'm glad you've shared what you know with me. Another thing I greatly appreciate is your honesty with me. Too many parents, I think, don't like to admit to their kids that they were ever young and foolish. That's how you end up with so many stupid younger people- they never had a bad example to grow from. I thank you for telling me some of the stupid things you used to do, so I know never to do them. Some of them I'd never dream of doing in the first place, but still- the reminder and the thought are nice. Since you're so open with me, it gives me the security to be open with you, and that's another thing you don't see a lot of. I don't understand how kids and parents can't have a good relationship. That probably sounds like a foolish statement, but I don't see how some people can have kids and NOT TREAT THEM RIGHT. If you aren't going to raise your kid as well as you can, if you aren't going to try and have a close friendship with your kid... why even bother? I get the discipline end of things, but if you raise your child correctly from the start, those issues won't come up often enough to ruin a relationship. In any case, I'm getting off track here. Dad, thank you so much for being there for me, for teaching me, for guiding me, and for encouraging me. I've said this before, but thank you so much for making sure that the word 'dad' has a positive connotation for me, always. Thank you for everything you've done to make sure my sister and I grow up right, grow up following our dreams, grow up reaching our highest potential. Thank you for being my closest friend. - Maddie Dear Mom,
I miss you. It's been over 4 years now, and there still isn't a day that goes by where I don't remember you or think of you in some way. There are photos of you all around the house, though even after this time I still clearly remember your face, and even your voice. I can still remember your exact smell, how your hugs felt, how your hair was usually kept, and the abundance of makeup you used to wear (and how you'd apply it). As I've gotten older, I can somewhat see you in my own face- I have your eyes, your skin, and to a degree, your face shape. It's odd, watching myself change. But I don't want to dwell on sadness- so instead, I'd like to thank you for teaching me as much as you have, both before and after your untimely passing. Before you died, you taught me a good portion of my scholarly knowledge. Of course, Dad is the one who expanded so greatly upon that knowledge- but I still thank you for teaching me to read, write, and do simple mathematics when I was young. I also want to thank you for teaching me to be a "young lady"; though I've bent your rules a bit through the years, I still think I'm doing pretty alright. You taught me good table manners, and also how to keep things tidy and organized (even though I still suck at that). I'm glad that at the very least, I know how to do it properly. As I've grown and seen how I act, I realize I got a bit of my attitude from you, as well. I'm not very tolerant to messes, or uncleanliness- and thinking back, you never were very tolerant of that, either. Like mother, like daughter, I suppose. I'm just glad that of all traits I could've inherited from you, I inherited that- and your kindness. Another thing you taught me before you died was to never judge a book by its cover, and that is a lesson I still apply to my life today. I try to treat everyone with kindness or at the very least, civility. Thank you for teaching me that people sometimes are worthy of second chances. After your death and in the weeks leading up to your death, however, you taught me more than ever before. You taught me forgiveness, and the importance of saying things before it's too late. You taught me that you should never go to bed, or even go away, angry at someone. That there should always be room to say "I'm sorry" in your heart. I spent months before you passed frustrated and upset with you, and while I got my closure in the end, I still regret not cherishing the time I did have with you, despite all of the dysfunction... but then I suppose that dysfunction has made me who I am. - Maddie Dear Crush,
Needless to say, you are far more than a crush to me now- even though I can still look at you and feel the same butterflies I did when I first started getting to know you. Words can't express how grateful I am for you, and how happy I am that we've been able to overcome the obstacles that we have thus far. To prevent this letter from becoming too sappy, I'll cut myself short here and say that I love you, and I wouldn't want to spend my time with anyone else I've met yet. You've been there for me so much, and I couldn't ask for anyone better. You've truly had an incredible impact on my life, and while you aren't supposed to ever let another person become your happiness, I can say that you've given me a lot of reasons to smile and you make even the worst of days a bit better. Regardless of the mood I'm in, you can always calm me down and get me laughing again. I appreciate that more than I can show. I feel almost silly, writing this letter as if addressed to someone I'd never have a chance with- we've been together for over a year, and you'd think that the "crush" feeling would dissolve away. Not that I'm complaining- I'm glad it hasn't. I'm more than willing to enjoy each day as it comes, even if it doesn't stack up to "normal" relationship expectations. Thank you for standing by me. - Maddie Dear Best Friend,
Thank you, first and foremost, for staying around through the duration of my struggles. Thank you for supporting me when I was falling apart, and for never once turning your back on me. Your unwavering loyalty has been unmatched thus far, and not a day goes by where I am not appreciative. We have years of memories together; we've practically grown up together. I'm glad there's someone who knows me so well, and understands my roots well enough to also understand my sometimes questionable reasoning. Thank you also for constantly being there for me. I'm sure that by now you know I will always return that favor. No matter the problem, please know that you can always come to me. I may not always have a solution, but I'll be there to listen at the very least. You've helped me with so many of my problems both large and small, and it's the least I can do for someone who's almost a sister to me. I may not be able to fix all of your problems, but I can promise you that you will never face them alone. I think the craziest thing is how similar we actually are. You'd never guess it, looking at our friendship from the outside. We're so different in our personalities, and our humor and the way we approach situations seems so opposite- but at the end of the day, our logical thinking lines up perfectly. It's to the degree that we can talk about our futures- and have identical planning and thought processes regarding schooling and work. It's not a matter of copying one another, but more a matter of using critical thinking and applying it to our passion for helping those in need. All I can say at this rate is good luck. We're both facing our own challenges now, and I know yours press on you a lot. I'm always here, but by now you know that. You know your own value in my life. I can't say much else. Thank you for the incredible positive impact you've had on my life. - Maddie |
MaddieI created this blog page to organize the letters for the 30-day challenge I'm participating in. I invite you to join me. ArchivesCategories |