The book “What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self”, is a collection of forty-one letters from famous American women written to their younger selves. It is filled with advice and insights they wish they had had when they were younger. Here is an example from one famous American writer, poet, singer, civil rights activist named Maya Angelou.

Dear Marguerite,

You’re itching to be on your own. You don’t want anybody telling you what time you have to be in at night or how to raise your baby. You’re going to leave your mother’s big comfortable house and she won’t stop you, because she knows you too well.

But listen to what she says:

When you walk out of my door, don’t let anybody raise you — you’ve been raised.

You know right from wrong.

In every relationship you make, you’ll have to show readiness to adjust and make adaptations.

Remember, you can always come home.

You will go home again when the world knocks you down — or when you fall down in full view of the world. But only for two or three weeks at a time. Your mother will pamper you and feed you your favorite meal of red beans and rice. You’ll make a practice of going home so she can liberate you again — one of the greatest gifts, along with nurturing your courage, that she will give you.

Be courageous, but not foolhardy.

Walk proud as you are,

Maya

Source: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/07/01/maya-angelous-letter-to-her-younger-self/

Discussion Questions:

• 1. What do you find interesting about this lesson?

  2. What advice or wisdom would you write to your younger self?

  3. How has your concerns and thinking changed over time?