Comments on The Fifty Factor: To Be 16 Again...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. So much wi...

2009-12-12T01:42:13.914-08:00

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. So much wisdom in the lines of this letter. Didn't it feel good to write it? Not too long ago I wrote a letter to my 13 year old self. It was therepudic to say the least! Great post!

great post but I do question your thinking. Those...

2009-12-10T16:06:07.871-08:00

great post but I do question your thinking. Those scary movies are scarier for some than others but do you really think those driver ed movies is the source for not being adventurous in life? I suspect there is more to being afraid of the "unknown" than just those movies. We are all different and look at adventure differently. Your view back then may have been the right one who knows. It was the right one for you.
But your style of writing about was great.

You are so, so right, JJ! It's my argument wit...

2009-12-10T15:00:49.025-08:00

You are so, so right, JJ! It's my argument with modern thinking. Sure, none of us wants to lose a child - heaven forefend! But at the same time we just HAVE to let go and allow them to spread their wings and grow - and just hope and pray for the best - or we may damage them for life and deprive them of so much that life has to offer!

The way you described drivers training sounds awfu...

2009-12-10T10:00:42.944-08:00

The way you described drivers training sounds awful, I had none of that. I learned to drive from my Uncle, then with a Policeman and passed, we had no tests, no horrible movies and I am glad. As far as writing a letter for my future, I have arrived far into the future since I was 16 years old, I am now 76years old and have learned many things along the way. You have wrote a very interesting post, I enjoyed reading it. I wouldlike to wish you a Merry Christmas and may the holidays be bright.

A great and inspiring letter ... it should be sent...

2009-12-10T07:54:59.773-08:00

A great and inspiring letter ... it should be sent to every high school student who's taking Driver's Ed!

I wanted to stop by and wish you a very merry Chri...

2009-12-10T05:06:16.662-08:00

I wanted to stop by and wish you a very merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Joanna, did you really go to those places and m...

2009-12-09T22:12:29.365-08:00

Oh Joanna, did you really go to those places and miss being a little more adventurous. I can't imagine that about you, really, I cannot. I would describe myself as cautiously adventurous and shake my head at some risks I have taken but have definitely had some fun along the way and would not trade places or change ... well, much.

Great post!! I too find that I am afraid to try ne...

2009-12-09T19:17:12.396-08:00

Great post!! I too find that I am afraid to try new things... But I am getting more brave as the years go by

I love this, and I love that you have let go of th...

2009-12-09T17:34:41.183-08:00

I love this, and I love that you have let go of the fears that do not serve you.

I would say....yanno all those feelings you have a...

2009-12-09T17:16:09.290-08:00

I would say....yanno all those feelings you have about yourself, buried deep? Follow them, they're made of truth. And I would say...things will change and you will not always be so sad as you are now.

that is a touching story! My note to younger self...

2009-12-09T15:50:01.649-08:00

that is a touching story!

My note to younger self..don't be such an ass!!!

I wish you wrote this when I was 15!!!!!

2009-12-09T15:38:38.168-08:00

I wish you wrote this when I was 15!!!!!

Such good advice. Now if we could all go back so ...

2009-12-09T15:34:09.651-08:00

Such good advice. Now if we could all go back so we could take it! Wouldn't that be lovely?

Oh, what a terrible thing to happen...Wish your te...

2009-12-09T14:54:22.129-08:00

Oh, what a terrible thing to happen...Wish your teacher had been more aware and sensitive!! Thanks for sharing so authentically!! I think you are meeting life head on now!!! And I truly admire that about you!!! ~Janine XO

'Don't wait or life will pass you by' ...

2009-12-09T12:15:29.412-08:00

'Don't wait or life will pass you by' Very wise words, Joanna.

Geez, drivers-ed, that's opening up a can of w...

2009-12-09T12:13:53.039-08:00

Geez, drivers-ed, that's opening up a can of worms in my life. I didn't cry at the movies, but I took them seriously (even the don't-do-drug movies they showed us in health class). I like to think those movies helped make me a responsible person. However, I didn't get my license 'til I was almost 18, but that's because my parents wouldn't let me, but you can be sure the day my sister was old enough (16years & 6 weeks), she got hers... and guess which one of us has had multiple car wrecks & speeding tickets. Um, not me.

Oh how Drivers Ed. brings up memories. On the far...

2009-12-09T11:50:17.323-08:00

Oh how Drivers Ed. brings up memories. On the farm we are put on wheels way before our time so when it comes time were are waaaay ahead of the city slickers. Great post!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!!!

I somehow managed to get plenty of experiences und...

2009-12-09T10:19:31.216-08:00

I somehow managed to get plenty of experiences under my belt even though I was also 20 when I go my license. Who knows what would have been?

Fine post.

2009-12-09T10:16:57.318-08:00

Fine post.

Oh , this made me ache for you. I didn't think...

2009-12-09T08:44:57.496-08:00

Oh , this made me ache for you.
I didn't think I was scared but I internalized my fears and let the testing date pass... I finally went again in my late twenties.

I still can't drive on highways or expressways, which severely affects my life in ways such as you described. Oh sure I've made some great friendships always taggin ' along with the mom who said she'll bring me and an assorted kiddie or two to travel soccer etc. , but it's a horrible thing.
Every couple of years I try and go for it, but the last time I backed up on the shoulder of the off ramp at the last minute when I chickened out.

Can you imagine. How dangerous is that?? It's a physical fear and I laugh about it as often as I can but it makes me crazy. Or crazier :)

Joanna! We had to watch those awful movies too! I ...

2009-12-09T08:27:26.070-08:00

Joanna! We had to watch those awful movies too! I even remember the name of it: "Mechanized Death". It was my first ever glimpse into the world of crime scene photos. But it worked. I've always been a very good defensive driver.

These days, those old movies wouldn't make a teen flinch. They see worse on their X Boxes. Real isn't real and fake isn't fake anymore. None of it has the impact that it used to, which is not only sad, but dangerous. All the desensitization has left our youth feeling more invincible than ever.

Outside my children's high school they used to park wrecked cars that resulted in teen death. That was a sober reminder of what can happen - to me, but I wonder if it had the intended results for the teens.

It's a crazy dangerous world out there. No wonder I don't like to drive.

Wow -- what a horrific DRiver's Ed class! Watc...

2009-12-09T06:14:42.315-08:00

Wow -- what a horrific DRiver's Ed class! Watching accidents.. as if that is going to make you a better driver!?

I didn't drive until I was in my late twenties - I was too busy travelling the world before then.

Great post Joanna! I feel the same way about many ...

2009-12-09T06:00:50.038-08:00

Great post Joanna! I feel the same way about many of those lost opportunities because of how young I married. You wrote out my thoughts so well! Every young person should read this!

Good read, but I agree with Christy in that it'...

2009-12-09T05:36:11.662-08:00

Good read, but I agree with Christy in that it's never too late to do anything you really want to do. Go ahead, give it a go!

So poignant! It is amazing how out side influence...

2009-12-09T03:52:09.567-08:00

So poignant! It is amazing how out side influences can affect out lives so profoundly. In ways we hardly understand until years later. But as others said; once we come to our own senses....we can do it all! There is now nothing holding us back. Time to enjoy! I wouldn't want to be sixteen again! Not in a heart beat! LOL! Too much drama!
Hugs
SueAnn