On January 16, 2018, Charlotte Washburn Barker came into the world. She is my sixth granddaughter. To celebrate the occasion, I thought I’d write a letter to her filled with wise-old-grandfather stuff. Then it occurred to me that she can’t read. I also realized that I’m just one old guy; hopefully, Charlotte will have many good mentors in her life in addition to her terrific parents Sarah and Ed (yes, I’m biased, but they are terrific) and her dynamic sister Phoebe (ditto). That said, here are just some of my thoughts and, more important, the thoughts of two sage women. Perhaps, Charlotte’s parents can save these thoughts and bring them out for her to read from time to time.

My thoughts. Keep smiling. When you’re a baby, you’ll get huge cheers when you smile, even though the cause of the smile might just be passing gas. A good smile will work wonders throughout your life, although passing gas may not. Be kind to others, even though others aren’t always kind to you. Play fair. No victory is worth cheating to get it. Read. A lot. And don’t be surprised if I keep giving books to you.

Okay, Charlotte, let me share the wise words of Shannon Brady, a former basketball star at Bowdoin College. In her essay, “Refuse to Shrink,” Shannon wrote, “If I could tell my seven-year-old self one thing it would be to refuse to shrink. Seven-year-old Shannon would probably look at me with a furrowed brow and confused expression, because shrinking was the last thing on her mind at that moment in time. When I was seven, I wanted to be bigger and taller and faster and stronger. I had two brothers and ten boys in my neighborhood and shrinking wasn’t going to win me the backyard baseball game or the final round of horse before dinner. I went roller blading at the skate park every weekend and wore a purple helmet with a mushroom on it and knee pads so that if I fell down I could get right back up. I love seven-yearold Shannon. I wish I could bottle her up and carry her with me everywhere for inspiration.”

Shannon wrote about the pressures on girls to back off when they get to middle school and high school. “I’m talking about the societal pressure that is put on girls from the moment they’re born, to care more about makeup and what boys think of them than what they truly wanted to care about. (In my case, basketball.) The pressure that tells them to shrink everything in their life, from their pant size to their intellectual capacity and opinions.”

Shannon’ s concluding advice to young girls and is my hope for you: “I hope that every girl finds that thing that urges her to be bigger, to aim higher, and to use her unique voice. Claim your space, even if it means pushing others out of the way at times. Do not become comfortable with dormancy when you were born to grow.”

Now here are some passages from “The Invitation,” by Oriah, the Mountain Dreamer.

“It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

“It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another and be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

“It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.”

Yes, Charlotte, that’s pretty heavy stuff, but sometimes, as you get older, heavy stuff makes good sense. For now, just believe it when people tell you that you’re special, because you are. And you always will be.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at dtreadw575@aol.com.