Note to Self Summary
8 min read ⌚
Inspiring Words from Inspiring People
Truthfully, you can’t be at your best at all times!
According to some, when you are in your prime, you have to push yourself beyond your limits.
But sometimes, life and all the uncertainty can get the better of you.
What would your response be? What would the letter say?
Let us walk you through some super inspiring insights that will keep you on your toes.
Who Should Read “Note to Self”? And Why?
Sometimes, having the wind at the back or just a the tap on the shoulder is all it takes to turn the odds in your favor. But, what if that support you so desperately need, must come from you?
Yeah, we know – there are a lot of self-help books up for grasp, but that’s not enough.
Let’s give Gayle the benefit of the doubt before we start making assumptions and drawing conclusions.
As such, we firmly believe that “Note to Self” would be a great addition on your bookshelf regardless of your beliefs.
About Gayle King
Gayle King is a TV show host, journalist, author and the co-anchor of the CBS News morning show.
She appeared on the big screen for the first time in the 1980s, as a production assistant at WJZ-TV in Baltimore and later on as a news anchor for WFSB in Hartford.
In 1991, she co-hosted a talk show with Robin Wagner “Cover to Cover.”
“Note to Self PDF Summary”
Some would say it’s just shocking, while others might be appalled at the reality which permeated the American society back in the days. When Gayle was in elementary school, a boy sitting next to her said: If it weren’t for Abraham Lincoln, you’d be my slave.
Lightning bolt straight from the sky!
Little Gayle stormed back into the house, curious to find out whether that’s true? Her mom told her not to worry too much about it, and to move on.
The concept which raises many eyebrows is predicated on the idea of telling your younger self a thing or two about life. For instance – how would you instruct your 15-year-old self if you had the chance to do so?
Would you tell him/her not to worry too much about not getting a certain job, or perhaps ending up heartbroken?
Writing that special letter could really be the turning point of that person’s life, but what should be written remains a personal thing.
Do you reckon that putting the younger self on guard about something is the right solution?
If you think that reading these letters is just as easy as doing the laundry, you are in for a big surprise. The note to that “self” is provoking and life-altering experience that could revive the bright side in those dark moments.
It may compel you to look beyond your comfort zone, and question the hard-won enlightenment, but it’s a valuable transition. Many people underwent all sorts of life tests; some ended up victorious while others had their ideas challenged and destroyed.
What about Oprah?
Nowadays, there’s rarely a person on this planet who hasn’t heard of Oprah! The renowned TV producer, talk-show host, philanthropist, and author was as scared as the next person when she was first starting out with an intention to make a name for herself in the industry.
As a young 20-year old reporter and a TV Host in the making, she was dead-scared about the challenges lying ahead.
You are proud about getting a certain job because you know very well what you’ve been through, but there’s this dreadful thought that implies – you are just not good enough.
The feeling of discomfort and doubt take over your mind and leaves you to drown in the endless chatter of destructive thoughts.
From where I sit now viewing your journey, there really are very few regrets. Which means a life well lived. Even then you understood that success was a process and that moving with the flow of life and not against it would be your greatest achievement.
What about Ryan O’Callaghan?
For those of you who don’t know, Ryan O’Callaghan is an openly declared gay former NFL player.
You’ve lived your life in fear of resentment, fear of being labeled as “fag.” You decided that it’s in your best interests not to share this secret with your friends and family. You don’t think that avowing your homosexuality will be meet with acceptance and encouragement.
Sometimes, you feel them talking about you, nagging you and it still hurts.
The goal is to make sure that nobody finds out because if they do, you’ll be rejected and mostly condemned for something you have no control of.
The truth is, people are much more supportive than you think, and you have to battle your way through to see that.
Breathe, take as much time as you need to address the problem and find what works for you. The bottom line is – tackling this inner chaos is easier said than done.
Just keep breathing and calm your monkey mind, which prevents you from opening up.
Even though people are disparaged for being gay or whatever, you mustn’t succumb to the pressure. It’s your job to live the life you’ve always wanted, without any restrictions whatsoever.
Just hang in there!
So again, breathe. Really. Breathe. Believe it or not, it gets better for you, and soon you will want to share this newfound happiness and love with the world.
What about Joe Biden?
Don’t underestimate the traditional family values! You’ll learn a lot from your parents; your loved ones who mean you no harm and push you to follow your dreams. At the end of the day, it’s not about the paycheck; it’s about dignity and respect.
If you don’t want to impute these values to your parents, that’s fine, but life will compel you to look differently.
Whatever you do, defines your character, helps you to forge relationships and urges you to build up from there.
As times goes by, you’ll understand why change is inevitable, and staying rigid heralds a painful defeat. It’s not always easy, but it’s expedient, and you mustn’t run away from it.
Keep up the good spirit, Joey.
What about Dr. Ruth?
You are a small girl, loaded on a train. You see your mother and grandmother waving at you, while your father is taken by the Nazis. You don’t know whether the journey is worth it, and what follows next?
Over six million Jews suffered even worst fate, and you are one of the lucky ones who managed to get out alive. Life is taken from them, not because of a crime they committed but because they were born in a wrong uniform.
Being Jewish is a capital offense, and you have nowhere to go.
With the passing of time, you begin to realize how fortune and some mystical force played a role in your life. Now, you must make up for it, and live not just for yourself, but also for the people you hold in your heart.
And so, you become more emotional, more fragile but stronger, to say the least. This vulnerability is portrayed as a courageous act, and you understand it because you’ve been through it.
The story of your life is put under the spotlight, as you try to slow down your breathing and control your emotions.
Your bravery will be rewarded.
What about Tyler Perry?
What do you see in those smirk eyes?
Do they reflect the painful past that evokes nothing but trouble and sadness? Does it hurt watching your mom getting knocked around and beat up?
Do you see an end in sight?
People will always try to rob you of your innateness, and that’s no secret. You must hold your ground, and stop the molesters, but how?
The uncertainty and fear that penetrate your mind are hard to deal with. You have a lot of challenges ahead, and you must embrace them in order to grow up. Practice your faith in God, and follow the inner voice that speaks to you!
I just want you to know, you beat everybody who beat you. And all that time you spent trying to make your mom smile by imitating her and dancing and laughing, keep that up, boy . . . it pays off big-time.
What about Jimmy Carter?
Never jeopardize the relationships with the rural part of America. True champions are not those filled with prejudice and hatred; it’s a group of people who don’t see color but character. Racial discrimination is a disease that plagues the community, stifles free speech, harasses and harangues those who want their voices to be heard.
You wanted to be an Army General, or perhaps a Submarine officer, and you ponder about the likelihood of achieving your dreams. You do your best to learn, and you’re ready to sacrifice yourself to that end.
That incentivizes you to lead the US to become a nation of peace. A country where racial intolerance is at its minimum, and you are the instigator of such a perspective.
Also, bear in mind that one of the greatest achievement in life is to be happily married. Your wife and the family you create together will always stand beside you and support you no matter what.
There will be people who scornfully despise this outlook on life, but you must set your ideas.
What about Tim Howard?
What’s next, are you going to pursue your football(soccer) dreams? You are not even 25, and you are about to make a decision that will change your life! You dreamed about playing for Manchester United, but are the odds against you?
Deep down, you know that you deserve it, and you will do anything to make it through. It takes years to develop into a world-class goalkeeper and play for the best teams in Europe, and even then, there’re plenty of other guys just as passionate as you.
Sir Alex Ferguson puts you in the starting eleven; you have to act tough and unleash your talent by appearing confident.
It will take time before the skeptics begin to come out of the closet and start questioning your potential.
And one other thing, try not to wear colors that resemble the jersey of their fierce hometown rival, Manchester City!
Enjoy these years; it will be the time of your life.
Key Lessons from “Note to Self”
1. The thing you want isn’t the thing you need to have
2. Keep it cool
3. You don’t know what’s coming next
The thing you want isn’t the thing you need to have
Inasmuch as we wanted to include all stories laid out by Gayle, it was impossible.
In the stories summarized above, you’ll find out how luck can play a major rule in your life by giving you more than you’ve ever bargained for.
Nurture the open-minded approach, because flexibility will help you get more from life.
Keep it cool
Yes, life doesn’t always unfold in the way we want it.
We have to cope with uncertainty, struggle, and resentment. By doing so, you’ll train your mind not to press the “panic button” and raise undue concerns when things get out of hand.
Stay cool, and refrain yourself from taking unnecessary actions.
You don’t know what’s coming next
Indeed, the desire to minimize risks goes against the tide. You never know what’s coming your way; the only thing you should do is keep pedaling.
Eventually, you’ll hit the shores, and claim your prize.
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“Note to Self Quotes”
And I use the word beautiful because I know that’s never a word you would call yourself. I look into your eyes and see the light and hope of myself. Click To Tweet The bad news is, you nearly killed yourself on the road to success, fueled by fear of failure, crippling anxiety, and insecurity. You will become severely bulimic and anorexic, and the worse your disease gets, the more praise you will get… Click To Tweet You’re so uncertain about a lot of things. Right now the most important thing to you as a man-child is growing up to be able to take care of your mother. Click To Tweet You’ll come to feel that you have to be perfect—meaning thin and pretty and appealing and certainly not angry, a good gir—if you want to be loved. Click To Tweet And trust your senses—especially your sense of taste. You probably aren’t even aware of how sensitive you are now, but, believe me, your senses of taste and smell and sight and touch are going to be your personal treasure. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
The feedback Gayle received helped her to understand the big picture.
Not just audacity and willpower, but also guidance is needed in order to get to the top. Whatever you deem the younger self should pay heed to, must be brought up by you.
Leave a blank space at the bottom, in case you have something else on your mind.
Dive deep into these notes, and find out what makes a great winner.
Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.
