Eleven words

[drwex]

Thing 1 went back to Florida today for her second year of college. I've been unable to sleep as I'd like, very active dreams. So while lying there unable to sleep I thought through what I wanted to say to her.

I got it down to 11 words, short enough that I hope she'll remember. So, dear readers, if you had 11 words to give your child or other loved one, what would they be?

Do good, do well.
Be safe, be happy.
I love you.

Comments

[rmd]

Make 'Present You' the 'Past You' that 'Future You' will thank.

*applause*

[drwex]

That's brilliant!

Re: *applause*

[rmd]

I was trying to think of something that would apply to 'responsible' things and also to the fun things one should do while younger because you *can*.

[kimberlogic]

that's fantastic!

[corylea]

Balance.

Balance work and fun.

Balance care for others and care for self.

Balance healthy habits and self-indulgence.

Balance.

[dcltdw]

If you know Mark LeBlanc (prrrrobably not? also an MIT person), he said N years ago:

Do good things, not bad.
Do smart things, not dumb.

It's an expression I use fairly often when the conversation turns that way.

[drwex]

That's not a bad overall idea. My problem, as I kind of poked at in the writing prompts from about a year ago, is that in media res I often have a hard time telling smart from dumb. That's often a post-facto judgment.

[kimberlogic]

You are loved, now and always.
Be safe, be happy & well.