Thanks to Coach Eli for helping me with today’s post. I normally don’t worry about writing every day but I am committed to the 31 for 21 challenge. Or should be committed, but let’s just say I love a challenge. But needed a prompt.

Into my inbox walks Eli’s post of Threes. Three things I would want to lock into to a time capsule for my girls: three books, three CD’s and three quotes.

The books were difficult for me to pick, as I love so many books and authors. I decided to pick one book from different times in my life.

Good Night Moon because I would want them to remember the one book I ever read to either of them, along with the funny voices and ad libs I added to the story.

The Outsiders a book every teen should read that shows you what friendship is and how it is there for you when you need it most. I would want them to fall in love with a book that I feel in love with at the same age. Plus I would include a picture because those boys were the stuff of teenage dreams.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven to remind them that what they do matters, even if they might not see how their actions affect others.

Now the CD’s were easy!

Of course my girls would expect a CD from Jimmy Buffett, but the surprise would be which one. Since I would have a very difficult time picking any CD of his, I would compile my own mix-tape. Well, mix-CD but I would call it a mix-tape because that is just cooler.

Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Songs so every Christmas they could play it and I would have a small presence in their celebration.

Gordon Lightfoot’s Gordon’s Gold next to Harry Chapin, Gordon Lightfoot was the best story teller when it comes to music. I would want the girls to hear how a song can tell a story and not just that it’s all about the bass.

The quotes I had to really think about. I want them to have impact and to have my girls use them as a guidepost for their decisions. For them to see no matter how old you are you can make a difference. As Ann Frank said: “How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to change the world”. That is my greatest dream, for my girls to change the world around them.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou 

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person” Mother Teresa 

The last really isn’t a quote, but a poem by Martin Niemoller. I would want to include it to show my girls how important speaking up matters.

First they came for the Communist and I did not speak out,
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialist and I did not speak out,
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionist and I did not speak out,
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out,
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.

It matters to speak up. To not stay silent when you see a wrong. To be willing to be the voice and the light. To have them see the world around them and look for ways to improve it. That would be the one thing I would want to contain in my time capsule for my girls.

Now it’s your turn. Imagine a time capsule for your children and tell me what three books, CD’s and quotes you would lock inside.

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