When I was young, I loved to watch Shirley Temple movies. My family owned several VHS tapes of Shirley Temple films, and my favorites included The Bluebird (which FOX created to compete with MGM's film The Wizard of Oz) and The Little Princess. As I got older, I felt a special connection with Shirley Temple, because of a letter that I got from my mother.I don't know exactly why, but I was reminded of this letter today when I was driving in the car. When I got home, I pulled out the letter to read it again. My mom wrote this letter when I was at camp as a young teenager, sometime in the mid-1990s. Here's an excerpt:
"When I see old Shirley Temple movies and see Shirley Temple being extra grown up and mature and cheerful for her age - I think, 'M is like that.' Even though you have had some less cheerful times (on the surface or on your face expression) usually you are cheerful again soon. I see you use wisdom at a young age to be a leader to yourself to pull yourself out of gloominess. Of course we all have good reasons to be gloomy but I have seen you bring yourself back to cheerfulness even when the reason to be gloomy still exists..."
The letter continues with my mom saying that she hopes I don't get any headaches while I am at camp (which is ironic, because I'm typing this post while fending off a slight headache).
Although I don't feel much like Shirley Temple, I've always liked that my mom saw a similarity between me and the charming little child actress. And even more, I like that my mom believed that I have the ability to "pull [myself] out of gloominess." Sometimes I don't feel like I use the right coping mechanisms to deal with gloominess; I'd rather ignore problems and pull myself out of a grumpy mood through denial (something I am trying to correct).
But I do want to be a cheerful person, and I'm glad that my mom recognized that desire in me.
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6 comments:
I think you're a cheerful person even if you do go through phases of denial. The fact that you have the denial phase at all shows that you'd prefer to be cheerful. :)
What a wonderful letter from a mom- your mom. That is something to be treasured. I got the you suck, this is how you need to change letters. She thought she was being a good person in doing this, but it did no good. She's much better at that now, but the damage has been done.
this brings me comfort:
Alma 41:5The one raised to ahappiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
I loved this post. I love how open you are on your blog. I love that you just spurt out your thoughts like an open book! It is so refreshing. What a sweet letter from your Mom and what a great compliment. Resiliency is such a great talent I think, and I think that's awesome that you had it even as a young woman. Wow. What a sweet letter. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so glad you still have that letter! I can definitely see the qualities your mom mentioned. Your cheerfulness through hard life events helps me strive for the same attitude. *Hugs*
That's a treasure of a letter from your mother, Monica. Thank you for sharing this and your thoughts. I admire Ann Marie - and you. You bless our lives.
What a sweet letter. And I've always admired your optimism and cheerfulness.
On a side note: Sophie is in a dance class right now, and is preparing to dance to "Animal Crackers in My Soup" for her recital. Gotta love Shirley Temple!
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