My Dearest Son,
I may not know you, but I think of you everyday. I spend the latest of nights thinking of your voice, your touch, the tone in which you will cry, and the pitch in which you will laugh. I often wonder what your favorite cereal will be, what sports you'll grow to love, and what names you will doodle in your notebooks.
It's amazing how a person could do so much for a being they've never met. Much of what I do is partly for my own benefit. To achieve my own dreams and accomplish goals I've set out as a kid. However, most of what I do is for you. From a young age, I've realized that most of a person's life will consist of being a mother or a father. In some situations, a person might just be both. I made a decision from early on, that I would make the time I spent as a parent the best it could possibly be. There are just five things I want you to know before that time comes.
Be yourself.
There is no doubt that you will hear this a bajillion times. But, don't take these two words lightly. Being yourself in a world that will constantly try to mold you for their liking is one of the hardest things a person can do. Being consistent with not only yourself, but others as well, opens doors. Doors for growth. Opportunities to improve your character. "I rather be hated for who I am, than liked for who I am not." People will poke fun of you for being different. They may criticize you for the music you like or the clothes you wear. You mustn't listen to these temporary critics. As you grow older, you will be recognized for your authenticity. You will be respected for any stones that were thrown at you. Followers are not be trusted. Be a leader. Be consistent. Old habits are hard to break. Start this trend young and as you grow it will become as normal as breathing.
Swallow your pride.
As a young man, there will be moments you will want to beat your chest. Moments where you want to scream in triumph because of the "awesome-ness" you believe you are emitting. Although pride in itself can be a very powerful thing, do not let it consume you. The most prideful man can also be the most naive. Stay humble. There will be moments when you're on top of the world and there will also be moments where hell itself doesn't seem low enough. Pride can cause people to fear being wrong. It could cause a person to be so self-absorbed that the possibility of another person being right sounds downright ludicrous. Spoiler alert: 50% of your life, you will be wrong. Actually, the fact that you're a male brings the probability of misjudgment to about 60%. Listen to others. Admitting your mistakes is one of the best qualities a man can have. In the end, it is better to do right than be right.
Listen to the women in your life.
There are no statistics I can give you. However, I know without a doubt that girls are smarter than boys. Yes yes, I know, it's a tough pill to swallow son but hear me out. Girls have this sixth sense. No, I don't mean mind reading (although I'm not totally ruling that out), they just have this intuition that 9/10 times is absolutely correct. There have been women in my life that have taught me things no guy could have ever dreamed. It's honestly frightening the amount of power our smooth skinned counterparts posses. But, it is what it is. So when a girl says, "Don't wear those pants." Don't. When a girls says, "Don't do that." DO NOT BY ANY MEANS DO THAT! Whatever that is, it's not worth it and you're probably wrong anyway so just let it go. Happy wife, happy life. Happy mom, happy life. Happy sister, happy...you get it. If you can find a way to make every girl you come in contact with not want to beat your skull in with a bat, your life will be exponentially better. I guarantee it.
Smile.
I am doing everything I can right now to set you up pretty nice. So, whatever problems you think you have, are likely not that serious. Smile! You're my son, you have to have been passed down some of these pearly whites. Happiness attracts happiness. Read it again. Three simple words have never proven more true. The aura you exert will be felt by family, friends, the mailman down the road, or a stranger at the drive-thru. Someone once told me, "Do not let them picture you without picturing that cheesy smile." Let your happiness be an imprint in peoples' minds. Smiles radiate good vibes. More people should smile, let it start with you.
Be nice.
After all is said and done, you'll accomplish much. You'll win some awards, get some promotions, and you're going to feel good about yourself; as you should. However, there comes a point in your life when you hit a plateau of self-worth. There is only so much you can do for yourself. On the contrary, there is not enough you can do for others. There is no better feeling than making another person's day. There is no better feeling than seeing the awe in the face of a stranger you just helped. In a narcissistic world, it is often shocking when we see others putting themselves second. It is also one of the most rewarding feelings a human being can obtain. There are so many people that you will come in contact with in the span of your life. Why not make these interactions pleasant? I'm not asking you to be a saint but, at the least, be considerate. Get off the phone when you're paying at the cash register. Ask the cashier something specific.
Do NOT ask:
"Hey how you doin'?"
"Good, you?"
"Good."
That is such a dry and vague conversation that too many people have on a daily basis.
Ask something like, "Hey, what'd you eat for breakfast?" or "Do you have any plans this weekend?"
The response you will get from them will be 10x more lively. They will be thankful of the fact that someone actually acknowledged their existence. Not only that but, it feels good to do good. Nice guys don't finish last. That is the biggest lie I've ever heard. You know who said that? Some resentful, low self-esteem guy, who isn't very nice! Nice guys are chill, we need more nice guys. There are so many problems in the world, be apart of the solution.
I know this might seem like much but don't worry about it, you're not even born yet. But when you are, I hope you read these words in good spirits. I hope that I am everything you hoped for because I sure know you are.
Humbly inspired from Dash by Lauren Starace.
I may not know you, but I think of you everyday. I spend the latest of nights thinking of your voice, your touch, the tone in which you will cry, and the pitch in which you will laugh. I often wonder what your favorite cereal will be, what sports you'll grow to love, and what names you will doodle in your notebooks.
It's amazing how a person could do so much for a being they've never met. Much of what I do is partly for my own benefit. To achieve my own dreams and accomplish goals I've set out as a kid. However, most of what I do is for you. From a young age, I've realized that most of a person's life will consist of being a mother or a father. In some situations, a person might just be both. I made a decision from early on, that I would make the time I spent as a parent the best it could possibly be. There are just five things I want you to know before that time comes.
Be yourself.
There is no doubt that you will hear this a bajillion times. But, don't take these two words lightly. Being yourself in a world that will constantly try to mold you for their liking is one of the hardest things a person can do. Being consistent with not only yourself, but others as well, opens doors. Doors for growth. Opportunities to improve your character. "I rather be hated for who I am, than liked for who I am not." People will poke fun of you for being different. They may criticize you for the music you like or the clothes you wear. You mustn't listen to these temporary critics. As you grow older, you will be recognized for your authenticity. You will be respected for any stones that were thrown at you. Followers are not be trusted. Be a leader. Be consistent. Old habits are hard to break. Start this trend young and as you grow it will become as normal as breathing.
Swallow your pride.
As a young man, there will be moments you will want to beat your chest. Moments where you want to scream in triumph because of the "awesome-ness" you believe you are emitting. Although pride in itself can be a very powerful thing, do not let it consume you. The most prideful man can also be the most naive. Stay humble. There will be moments when you're on top of the world and there will also be moments where hell itself doesn't seem low enough. Pride can cause people to fear being wrong. It could cause a person to be so self-absorbed that the possibility of another person being right sounds downright ludicrous. Spoiler alert: 50% of your life, you will be wrong. Actually, the fact that you're a male brings the probability of misjudgment to about 60%. Listen to others. Admitting your mistakes is one of the best qualities a man can have. In the end, it is better to do right than be right.
Listen to the women in your life.
There are no statistics I can give you. However, I know without a doubt that girls are smarter than boys. Yes yes, I know, it's a tough pill to swallow son but hear me out. Girls have this sixth sense. No, I don't mean mind reading (although I'm not totally ruling that out), they just have this intuition that 9/10 times is absolutely correct. There have been women in my life that have taught me things no guy could have ever dreamed. It's honestly frightening the amount of power our smooth skinned counterparts posses. But, it is what it is. So when a girl says, "Don't wear those pants." Don't. When a girls says, "Don't do that." DO NOT BY ANY MEANS DO THAT! Whatever that is, it's not worth it and you're probably wrong anyway so just let it go. Happy wife, happy life. Happy mom, happy life. Happy sister, happy...you get it. If you can find a way to make every girl you come in contact with not want to beat your skull in with a bat, your life will be exponentially better. I guarantee it.
Smile.
I am doing everything I can right now to set you up pretty nice. So, whatever problems you think you have, are likely not that serious. Smile! You're my son, you have to have been passed down some of these pearly whites. Happiness attracts happiness. Read it again. Three simple words have never proven more true. The aura you exert will be felt by family, friends, the mailman down the road, or a stranger at the drive-thru. Someone once told me, "Do not let them picture you without picturing that cheesy smile." Let your happiness be an imprint in peoples' minds. Smiles radiate good vibes. More people should smile, let it start with you.
Be nice.
After all is said and done, you'll accomplish much. You'll win some awards, get some promotions, and you're going to feel good about yourself; as you should. However, there comes a point in your life when you hit a plateau of self-worth. There is only so much you can do for yourself. On the contrary, there is not enough you can do for others. There is no better feeling than making another person's day. There is no better feeling than seeing the awe in the face of a stranger you just helped. In a narcissistic world, it is often shocking when we see others putting themselves second. It is also one of the most rewarding feelings a human being can obtain. There are so many people that you will come in contact with in the span of your life. Why not make these interactions pleasant? I'm not asking you to be a saint but, at the least, be considerate. Get off the phone when you're paying at the cash register. Ask the cashier something specific.
Do NOT ask:
"Hey how you doin'?"
"Good, you?"
"Good."
That is such a dry and vague conversation that too many people have on a daily basis.
Ask something like, "Hey, what'd you eat for breakfast?" or "Do you have any plans this weekend?"
The response you will get from them will be 10x more lively. They will be thankful of the fact that someone actually acknowledged their existence. Not only that but, it feels good to do good. Nice guys don't finish last. That is the biggest lie I've ever heard. You know who said that? Some resentful, low self-esteem guy, who isn't very nice! Nice guys are chill, we need more nice guys. There are so many problems in the world, be apart of the solution.
I know this might seem like much but don't worry about it, you're not even born yet. But when you are, I hope you read these words in good spirits. I hope that I am everything you hoped for because I sure know you are.
Humbly inspired from Dash by Lauren Starace.