To all the girls who ran wild at 17,
Who let their hair grow long and flung it boldly in the rain, who dyed their hair, who snuck out of windows and stayed out too late, who drank and smoked and danced too much, to those who may have hurt themselves, who may have sat in cars with boys they didn’t love, who suffered under judgmental glares praying for invisibility. To those girls who jumped off bridges into cold rivers and swam, who wore too much eye-liner, who fought, who loved, who fell, who made mistakes, and got up again, and ran, untethered, to where and to what they couldn’t have known. To all of you I implore you: Take heart, you who have passion, who will ultimately prove your place in things; you, who will ultimately bring magic and change to the world.
Ilie, I love your letter!!! I wish I had read this back when I was 17 running wild w/feathered hair! Once all that passion is focused on the right things–well, watch out world!
So very true, if only at 17 one knew how to begin to make a change…but, they will, you are right!
Beautiful letter. How about the girls who ran wild at times…when they could…yet could shake hands in Sunday church wearing perfect white cotton gloves? The girls who could help celebrate the holidays with the old folks in the home during the day, and slide down their roofs with their skirts tied around their necks (so as not to dirty them) at night. Upon landing, barefoot, ran to the end of the driveway to meet the cutest boy ever? That is passion too. The trick, I think is to keep the passion, light, love and optimism in her heart and just change its focus/direction as life’s circumstances change. We should all drink boldly from the cup of life…hold that cup with both hands and chug.
Wow, beautiful
Such strong, bold women! Its a hard road yet one I wouldn’t change for for anything in the world. The passion that ignites the wild side when used towards growth and light has an incomparable strength! I love your writing and am so excited to read more!
You make me smile. Love this. Love you (already). Thanks for finding me.