LETTER from CORLISSA CARD

Boys Message In Bottle:

Let's Think Differently

To the Editor:

I have always considered myself a logical thinker and have tried to teach my children to be realistic:

Pay your bills on time, keep your things tidy, go to bed on time, eat healthy and above all show respect to others. I have been known to be a bit overbearing, and I am certain my husband and children can attest to that.

When I was younger, I prided myself of on being tough and worked hard to make sure my peers saw me as such. I grew up with a hard-working father, who labored to make a living.

My father was uneducated – as the dictionary states, unschooled – vulgar (often) and simple. However, his perseverance and motivation inspired my work ethic and has kept me strong even during the greatest challenges in my life.

My mother, different than my father, was created purely on kindness, patience and understanding. She too understood the value of hard work, but never pursued more than she felt necessary to remain happy.

Thankfully, I managed to adopt kindness as a personality trait from my mother; admittedly, I have had to work to acquire patience and understanding.