LETTER TO MYSELF

I was recently asked if I had any words of wisdom for a gentleman who is 17 years old and is struggling with his weight.  I asked about him and was told things that really reminded me of myself at that age which made me think what would I say to myself if I could go back in time. This is the letter I wrote down:

Dear Ricky Lawson (Soon to be Sir Pat),

I write to you knowing that these words will be hard to swallow, and that you probably won’t react very well to what I have to say. It is hard to accept that people know what they are talking about, especially when it comes to something as personal as your health. No one ever wants to admit that they have a problem.  It shows a lack of discipline and a loss of self respect.

You are a very proud person who is very aware of what he can accomplish if pushed correctly. You worked hard to get better at basketball, be a more social/funny person and to be a better writer. These were great talents you had but you are wasting them. You have become weak with your laziness and your acceptance of mediocrity. I never thought anything was wrong in my life until I realized how happy other people were around me, and all I wanted to do was see them unhappy. You can’t live your life like that.  All it will lead to is being consumed by hate and jealousy. Realize how much the people around you love you and how much support you will receive if you push yourself to places you never thought you could. Take everything in stride and never forget to be nice to EVERYONE! If we were to take care of this problem now, your future life in college would be re-written, and our life as we know it would not be the same.

Some of the things you have to look forward to in the next 8 years: Failing to come back to both sports you love (Basketball and Football), getting bigger than you ever imagined, self-destructing in almost every relationship you begin, having more embarrassing stories than one person should ever have, losing yourself in your indecisiveness with faith, and creating un-needed space with a lot of people you love.

 There are some things that happened in those 8 years that I love (New friends, Texas State, Fuplex), but that's not to say I would not make changes if I could. To be healthy is to be thriving in life and that’s not what is going on right now. Please listen to what I have said and consider this all before you crumble this up and throw it away as you drive towards Conan’s for your meeting with Parliament.

You have too much to give to let it all sit for 8 years.

Love,
Ricky

P.S.  Its okay to be scared, it means you are alive.