If you had the chance to send a letter to your younger self what would you say? Would you urge yourself to spend more time enjoying the present moment? Share life lessons that you would have benefitted from back then? Or encourage yourself to keep going knowing that, in the future, things will turn out ok? We challenged four prominent Greeley women to do just that – craft a letter to their younger selves and reflect on their lives and how they became the women they are today. These are their stories, and we challenge you to think: what is yours?
Patty Gates, United Way of Weld County Vice President of Donor Engagement
Dear Younger Me,
You won’t realize it for many years, but you are very blessed. Your mother will be your champion your entire life, and your father will instill a determination in you that will be critical to survival and success. The life you imagined will quickly be rerouted, but your tenacity and grit will see you through.
You will experience the pain of a destructive relationship, but with great fortitude, you will take your sons to start a new life.
From that point on, you’ll begin a journey of self-discovery and reflect on what was lost but what can still be. Your belief that success is being a good mother and wife will change as you enter the workforce. Though you’ll have no clear goals, skills, or college degree, you will find your path.
Driven by the love of your children and the inner strength that was instilled in you since childhood, you will set out toward the pursuit of finding the bold, professional, and confident woman inside you. With the help of many amazing mentors, you will begin to see the possibilities and promise that you have never before envisioned.
You will raise two incredible young men and find your true love. You will be fierce in your determination to give back to your community and committed to making a difference in the lives of the women around you. You will find peace in knowing that you have accomplished more than you ever thought possible– and along the way, helped others do the same.
Linda Winter, Chief Shopping Officer at Accessories with a Flair!...and Hair
Dear Younger Me,
Little lady, you are lucky to have been born at this time, in this place, and in this family!
You will be raised with great support, fun times, and a positive attitude. Your parents will teach you the importance of being a community volunteer.
You will never really know what your father did working for the federal government, and your mom will inspire you to be creative and have a love of playing the piano, violin and guitar. Even at a young age, you will know who you are and will always strive to be successful.
You will want to always have your own business, so you will never be employed by anyone. You will learn the secret to success is...do whatever it takes. You will have a good marriage, live on a farm, raise two kids, and have five grandkids who you adore! You will be lucky to have known your grandparents, who lived to be 100. Your love of history will be ongoing, and your premonitions will fascinate you.
Don’t forget to play your musical instruments more, do more paintings depicting your favorite travels, and write that book you’ve always had in you because that fulfills your creative mind.
Keep smiling, be grateful, don’t waste precious time, and have a blast!
Jeannine Truswell, United Way of Weld County President & CEO
Dear Younger Me,
Your good moral compass, strong beliefs, an excellent work ethic, leadership skills, and a faith in God and your fellow man will serve you well. The lessons you learn from disappointment, mistakes, miscommunications and even failure will make you better and who you are today.
If anything, trust your heart and instincts more because, in the end, they are more often than not correct. If something doesn’t feel right, consider the facts but do not ignore your instincts. You are more emotionally intelligent than you realize.
You worry a bit too much, sometimes taking responsibility for things out of your control. Instead of lying in bed worrying, always get up and write down your thoughts. Losing sleep will negatively impact your ability to problem solve in the morning.
You will have positions that challenge you, enable you to grow professionally, and bring meaning and passion to your life. Your hard work, commitment, and leadership will pay off bringing results in making lives better.
Remember, life is shorter than we think. Treasure the moments with your parents, husband, son, family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Some will pass; others will grow up, move on, move away and lose touch. Be more mindful of how important they are to you and cherish them even more than you already do.
Continue to work hard but not too hard. Take time to care for yourself. Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace. Spend more time in nature; you know it feeds your soul.
Rhonda Solis, Vice-President, Latino Coalition of Weld County
Dear Younger Me,
Don’t underestimate your impact. Stand in your truth, and know you are loved! Your younger years will be challenging, but your grandparents continue to be your biggest support – so appreciate your time with them.
You will be quiet and reserved throughout your school years and which will continue into high school at Greeley West. You will question yourself because you don’t feel like you belong, you don’t join any clubs or sports and you don’t really get active in school activities. Though you are smart and get good grades, you will fight hard to stay in your comfort zone.
I know you will feel lost, but be patient little caterpillar. You will have mentors that come into your life that help you feel more confident as a woman, and you learn about people that look like you and their incredible contributions to this nation, and YOU stand on their shoulders.
You will have the drive to volunteer in your community, serve on boards and commissions, and even run for office. During your two terms on the Greeley/Evans school board, you and your community will help pass the first MLO, increase graduation rates and pass a $395 million bond. That bond will rebuild Greeley West High School, and a picture of you with your fellow board members will be displayed in that school for the life of the building.
It is 2022, and your legacy is still being written; keep flying, butterfly.