“If I Could Write A Letter To Me”

“If I Could Write A Letter To Me”

I love all types of music but one of my favorites is Country Music.  I love the wholesomeness and truth of the lyrics and I love the fact that with just a few recent unfortunate exceptions country songs are what I can play on the radio and have my young child sing along without worrying about the words. I still find myself having to surprisingly quickly change the station once the song with the lyrics “I’ve got my toes in the water… in the sand” seems to be played every 5 minutes-not child friendly!.  One of my favorite country singers is Brad Paisley whose songs are always wonderful and when his song “Letter To Me” came out I thought it was an odd name for a song but after listening to the words it is so true and I am at a point in my life right now that I wish I could “write a letter to me.”

The gist of the song is a man who is looking back at the difficulties he had in his life and after having perspective wishes he could go back in time and tell himself that things would get easier. I love the entire song but my favorite line is the last line which is “ I wish you wouldn’t worry, let it be, I’d say have a little faith and you’ll see, If I could write a letter to me.”  I remember when my young child heard that song and was very confused because they asked me why Brad Paisley would write a letter to himself? I agreed at the time but now after going through a difficult period in my life the song is now my theme song.

Recently I as I am sure everyone has at one point I hit a point where I felt everything was going wrong in my life.  Yesterday after one of the most challenging days with my child that I have ever had since they have been alive I was at my breaking point.  Then I honestly heard this song on the radio and my tears of frustration stopped.  I looked back at the points of my life when I was going through extremely difficult times-my mom dying from cancer at a young age, thinking I would never find love or having a family, me being diagnosed with cancer when my child was 5 months old followed by the fight of my life when I did not think I would live, potty training, the first day of preschool which I felt my heart breaking and then I looked at myself where I am today. I miss my mother more than words could say but I try to keep her alive in my memories, I am celebrating 5 years of being cancer free this year, I have a wonderful husband and my child is getting ready to graduate from preschool.  I survived all of those extremely difficult periods of my life. So now as my child’s youth is quickly passing me by and I am finding that I am spending most of my days frustrated by the trials and tribulations of motherhood I thought of the Brad Paisley song.  I wish I could write a letter to myself when I was going through all of my difficult times over the past several years and tell myself that I would get through all of the heartache. I also wish I could fast forward 20 years into the future when my child has grown up and “write a letter to me” today telling me as a mom that I will surive all of the lessons that I am trying to teach my child today.  I need to remember that although the past few weeks have been difficult that my child is growing up very quickly and I do not want to miss a moment. I know that someday I will look back at the trials and tribulations of motherhood that I am facing now and long for the days when I was lucky to stay at home with my child and although there have been some major behavioral frustrations recently I was still lucky. I just wish that the “letter to me” from the future with a postmark 20 years from now could be delivered today!

Here are the lyrics for “Letter To Me” from Brad Paisley:

“Letter To Me” from Brad Paisley

If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17
First I'd prove it's me by saying look under your bed
There's a Skoal can and a Playboy no one else would know you hid
And then I'd say I know its tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her and it just don't seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast and it's rare

[1st Chorus]
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
She wasn't right for you
And still you feel like there's a knife sticking out of your back
And you're wondering if you'll survive
You'll make it through this and you'll see
You're still around to write this letter to me

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth
Always stop completely don't just tap your brakes
And when you get a date with Bridgett make sure the tank is full
On second thought forget it that one turns out kinda cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Just assume you're wrong and dad is right
And you should really thank Mrs. Brinkman
She spend so much extra time
It's like she sees the diamond underneath
And she's polishing you 'til you shine

[2nd Chorus]
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
Tonight's the bonfire rally
But you're staying home instead because if you fail Algebra
Mom and dad will kill you dead
Trust me you'll squeak by and get a C
And you're still around to write this letter to me

You've got so much up ahead
You'll make new friends
You should see your kids and wife
And I'd end up saying have no fear
These are nowhere near the best years of your life

I guess I'll see you in the mirror
When you're a grown man
P.S. "go hug Aunt Rita every chance you can"

[3rd Chorus]
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
I wish you'd study Spanish
I wish you'd take a typing class
I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be
I'd say have a little faith and you'll see

If I could write a letter to me
To me