The older I get the more obvious it becomes to me how much I've changed. Sometimes I wonder if those who've known me for a while can see it too.

I believe that we are different people at different stages of our lives. We carry around the same basic 'shell', that's true, but even that changes. I look at myself in the mirror and there is almost nothing recognizable left of that 20 or 30 year old young woman that I used to be. And on the inside, I have definitely become a very different person.

I think I finally understand what wisdom means. I can actually see myself having some of it. I'm always surprised when I say something that has my experience of years behind it.

I used to wonder what I would be like as an older person. I was afraid to grow older. I'm happy to say that what I imagined has not come to pass. I'm actually rather pleasant, to my surprise.

And I'm neither too thin nor too heavy. I wear what I want now, because I care a little less what others think. I'm far more confident than I ever imagined I could be.

The anger and resentments that I used to feel are gone. Not even traces are left; in their place, there is joy, and a unique kind of pleasure waking up every day. I appreciate my life more.

I finally understand why people volunteer. I do it myself. I'm at that age, you know.

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This wasn’t actually going to be the topic of this month’s Let Me Talk. I had another idea conjured up, and then I was watching the Today Show and heard about the number of increased car accidents attributed to the use of cell phones and text messaging while driving. The number one cause of death for teenagers is car accidents. That is a startling statistic.

I took my kids to lunch to talk with them about the importance of staying off their cell phones and never ever sending or reading text messages while they were driving. The tragic stories I had heard were a real wake up call.

My daughter said after our lunch conversation she and her friends all put a rule in place not to ever text message while driving. I was thrilled to hear our discussion had hit home.

I assure you our kids are listening to far more of what we say than we think they are. Never was that as clear to me than after years of nagging my kids and all their friends to wear their seat belts, I got the call every parent dreads.

When our daughter was 16 years old the phone rang and the police were on the other end saying our daughter had been in a very serious accident. My husband and I rushed to the scene full of worry and scared to death. I tried to remember what the last thing I said to her was. Did I tell her I loved her? Does she know how proud I am of her?

The police tried to stop us from getting any closer until we explained our daughter was in the accident. Once we got through, we were totally unprepared for what we saw. The cars had collided head on going over 50 miles an hour. The car she was riding in was in the middle of the two-lane highway—upside down.

I scanned the crowd looking for my daughter. There she was standing—yes standing!—on the side of the road. We ran to each other and embraced in tears. I was never so glad to see my daughter in my life. A flood of relief washed over me.

I soon learned there were five teenagers in the car she was riding in. Miraculously, all five were wearing their seat belts! Her friend was driving the car she was riding in.

I share this story with you as a reminder to buckle up and to loosen up. Buckle your seat belts and loosen your lips—tell those around you how much you love and appreciate them—often. You never know when it will be your last chance.

One by one my daughters friends showed up at the house in the days after the accident and each one of them shared with me that it was due to my nagging over the years that they were all in the habit of putting on their seat belts. In fact, that very night of the accident they joked about buckling up or hearing about it from me. They buckled up and an hour later they were in the head on accident.

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES! PLEASE WEAR YOURS! I have no doubt the night I got that phone call would have turned out very differently if they had not been wearing their seat belts. I am so grateful they were.

Putting on a seat belt takes about 10 seconds.

Trust me, you are worth it!
Gotta Skate
Linda

Dear Gurl Art Gals,

It seems that we are being given reminders in both large global ways and in small personal ways to focus on what matters. This spring I hope we take that message to heart. A new sense of hope and opportunity seems to be emerging.

Let’s embrace it! Find the time to give back, speak and show your affection often, mend a quarrel, keep promises, believe more strongly in your dreams.

Let’s begin this spring by putting our intentions into action. I am talking about a new way of approaching life. The way we spend our time is ultimately the way we spend our lives. Devote your time and energy to what really matters.

What do you always think about doing, but don’t actually do? What does your heart desire? Have you always wanted to run a marathon, take a trip to the land of your ancestors, take a photography class, learn to speak another language, plant a garden, or volunteer at a local charity?

Lets actually do it! The reality is we make time for whatever is really important to us. If it is truly a priority we find, we carve out, we create the time.

Sometimes on the way to your dream you get lost and find a better one. It is never too late to start living the life you were meant to live!

Gotta Skate!
Linda