Way back in 2011, I wrote one of my very early blog posts about What I've Learned from Five Years with Miss Lynnie on my youngest baby's 5th birthday. Today, that "baby" is turning TWENTY and I thought it would be a good time to revisit all of the things Miss Lynnie (she's called Miss Maddy these days) has taught me along the way. What have learned about life from my youngest daughter?
Treat Others as You Want to Be Treated--But, Match Energy When Necessary. This lady is one of the most empathetic, sympathetic, giving creatures I have ever met. She will one hundred percent do anything for anyone and go above and beyond at anything she does. But--while she treats others as she wants to be treated--she doesn't hesitate to speak up, step up and step in when someone needs knocked off a high horse. Sometimes it just requires a look from her--but, sometimes, a quick-witted, sharp-tongued comeback is in order. Sometimes it's a realization that a person no longer deserves her or a space in her life--and I wish I had had that strength and resolve at her age.
Just Do It. All of It. This young woman's resume is impressive beyond belief. From landing a position in a university neuroscience research lab in high school, to working through a spinal cord injury focused project design that is slated for publication with her as a named author as an undergraduate student, to working with a transplant team and a pediatric oncology team during her internship in Greece, to tutoring and mentoring students of all ages from international backgrounds--to being awarded a full university scholarship to receiving one of the "Columbus 20 under 20" awards her senior year of high school. She makes a list of things she wants to accomplish--and she does it. All of it.
Do it Afraid. She was signed up for a trip to Europe with a group from her high school as a high school freshman. The trip was affected during the pandemic and it had destination changes, was postponed, changed again, and turned into a trip itinerary that wasn't the one she wanted. Instead of going with the flow and going with her high school and a known group of classmates--she switched her trip to one with a different school district that was still going to the places she originally wanted to go. This meant that she was travelling abroad for the first time with a group of people she had never met. (This meant that she was travelling with chaperones that her father and I had never met too!) Deep breath, lots of prayers--but, off she went. Fast forward a few years, and off she went to Greece for a summer hospital internship--flying internationally alone through multiple countries on a pretty tight flight schedule. Deep breath, lots of prayers--but, off she went. This summer, she will be heading off to work in a clinic in Kenya. Deeper breaths, constant prayers--but. off she'll go. Is she fearless? No--but, she's going to do these things--even afraid--and that is one of the biggest lessons I've learned from her. Sometimes you have to do it afraid or you would never do anything!
Just keep Swimming. What Else Am I Gonna Do? Miss Maddy has the strongest resolve of anyone I know. When bad things happen--and bad things have happened over the past twenty years--she keeps pushing. From insane class loads, working through times of loss and grief to refocusing and regrouping through huge projects and setbacks--she keeps pushing. When things seem too much or impossible or questionable--she keeps pushing. Giving up is never an option. When asked how she stays motivated and keeps pushing--her answer is simple. What else am I gonna do? And--I find myself saying this one simple phrase every.single.time I feel overwhelmed or defeated.
The world is meant to be experienced and appreciated. Take the time to see the forest…and trees…and frogs and lizards…and fungus and wildflowers…and…A hike with Miss Maddy has always been an experience—and is still experienced from a different view. She sees everything--and isn't afraid to get up close, snap great pictures or even pick it up. After twenty years, I still find myself saying, "Do not bring that home," when she sends me a picture of a random lizard or snake that she's encountered on an adventure. But—because of her, we have photographs of animals, objects and beauty both down the street and from random exotic places around the world that we never should have seen. This is the number one thing that makes her Maddy. Even a walk to class is an opportunity to see something wonderful. Whether it's a rabbit stealing someone's Door Dash or baby birds outside an office window--she notices, she experiences, and she appreciates.
All of those lessons that she taught me in her first five years of life still hold their places--but, grew along with her over next fifteen years into something even more special, inspiring and beautiful.
I absolutely cannot predict what I will learn from her in the next ten (or twenty) years--but, I can't wait to find out!
Happy twentieth birthday, Miss Maddy!
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