Stunned, she ran home to tell her mother, who comforted her
with words King still remembers – but it made King wonder
what she, as the woman she is today, would tell that “skinny
little nine-year-old girl…” if she could send her young self
a message. In her Emmy-nominated series for CBS This
Morning, she gives opportunities for others to do the
similar.
Beginning with Oprah, King’s best friend, there are words of
comfort for a young woman who was dating the wrong man: “I
use the word beautiful because… that’s never a word
you would call yourself.”
Kermit the Frog admits that he’s “green with envy” for the
possibilities ahead for the frog he once was. Former Vice
President Joe Biden advises his 12-year-old self to look
forward, because there’s great adventure ahead. NFL player
Ryan O’Callaghan advises his younger self to “Breathe.” From
Dr. Ruth, who was orphaned by the Nazis: “… your bravery
will be rewarded.”
Tyler Perry thanks his young self for thriving. Architect
Frank Gehry says, “Once you find your passion… work your
tail off…” John Lewis advises himself to always remember the
words of Dr. King: “We must learn to live together as
brothers or perish together as fools.”
Surround yourself with those you love. Hug often. Examine
your mistakes. Have fun. And remember that people can be
“meaner or crueler or wetter or prettier… but they can’t be
more human than you.”
If you could, would you become 18 years old again?
For most people, the answer is “yes,” but only if they can
take their knowledge back with them. It’s a moot point, of
course – you can’t, and you can’t – but Note to Self
sets forth an intriguing exercise.
It also offers a chance for reflection on a sleepy summer
afternoon, too. There’s a good mix of inspiring, gracious
and grateful tales inside this book, from those with stardom
already in-pocket, to a few that may not be household names
quite yet. Some of the tales are exactly what you’d expect,
while others may surprise you with candor and reasoning. TV
Host and story collector Gayle King explains how she
received these stories and others like them; she then lays
down a few rules, and leaves blank pages for readers’ own
Notes to Self.
This is not a difficult book to read. With its short, quick
chapters, it practically begs to be browsed in office or
commute, and it’ll make a great grad gift. Truly, Note to
Self is a book you’ll pay attention to.
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