A while back I received a selection of letters written by high school students as a response to their reading of Letters to My Son. I thought you all might find them interesting and valuable. They are followed by the response I wrote to them as a group.
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Dear Mr Kent Nerburn,
I have been reading some of your books. I don’t know why but I always read your book with warm tears. I always find the same or similar perspectives as yours, but I can not exactly explain in words.
I learned some of the things from my background culture(Buddism), from watching my parents and own experience with interacting with wide range of different people. I was one of the lucky one who lived in several different countries on my own. I chose to do it. When I look back, I have gradually understand how I should live, who I am and so on. My experiences helped me to understand these things. People I have met, clture I interacted with and incidents I have had… As you said, everyone has own stories of their life. Last year, I lost my father. That was the biggest incident in my life so far. It changed my life and my perspective of life. The biggest change from it was that I felt like I was released from the religious tie. I was always feeling guilty to live my own, even though I had my own life in abroad. However, after that I started feeling who I am.
I am not perfect and I would be never perfect, but I would like to help people. For example, some of my friends are strugglig with their job, life or other things. Like I was before. I would like to help them. Because they have not been aware of the fact that they are trupped in the stressful life. Their focus of life is not what it should be. I know I can not easily change them. They need to find it by their self. But I wonder is there anything I can help or support? I reccomend your book to read once a while, though. I wish more people are able to aware of the meaning of thier life. So that they would not need to struggle thier live any longer.
I would like to let you know that your book is a bible for my life.
I was about writing a letter to you, which I was not sure where to send it… But somehow, I found your wensite so I am very glad that I can comment on your book.
Yours faithfully,
Takako
Indeed i can notice the difference between a good writing and a non-experimental one. I read very much and i like to recognize the author according to his writing style. Unfortunately not many students my age are interested in such wonderful art, and prefer to sit at the computer. This is one of computer’s bad effects.
Thanks for the wonderful letters…I stumbled across your site, and I think that your advise works for everyone, young at art or not! I especially loved the part about understanding what music has to do with your art. There are so many moods and thoughts and emotions which come through when listening to either straight music, instrumental, or lyrics…you hit the nail on the head. Thanks for being able to put it down so clearly.