I'm proud. I'm about to dote.
You've come a long way since you hummed while eating pureed yams from your old metal high chair. Just yesterday, I swear, you were having full-length conversations with your imaginary friend named Lucy. Or crawling around the kitchen floor while barking like a dog. Those days went fast.
Somewhere along the line, you survived the trauma of losing a favorite stuffed animal during a two-minute trip to our local grocery-video store, getting a couple baby teeth knocked out in a parking lot, and succumbing to a mysterious "illness" involving NoDoz, a best friend named Taylor, and a call from a chaperone in Washington, D.C.
You went from cartwheels to car wheels, as the song goes. You were my favorite un-delicate and barely-graceful ballerina at age five. You often looked at the world with slight confusion and random wonder. That's a compliment. You dreaded guitar lessons at age six, you tolerated softball through fourth grade and basketball after that. Your passions rarely needed any structure because you asked for very little and aimed to please.
And here you are: you're a woman of principle who's comfortable in her skin. That says something.
As your Dad, I say you've traveled a greater distance these last few years than all the years before. On your own. Take pride in that. Be empowered.
People you've let into your heart know they can count on you. They appreciate your confidence and honesty. You're a natural leader. Your awareness of the good and bad and your knack at seeing wide angles and varied perspectives explains why you're both stubborn and compassionate. You're creative, fierce, loyal, smart, brave, forgiving, and funny.
I know this about you, too: your bright light is going to get brighter. It'll be quite a force especially if you keep reminding yourself (and me) of all the stuff you already know:
1. Life is short. Live each day with purpose. When will we ever have this moment again?
2. Be a good friend.
3. However you define success, it demands patience, purpose and commitment.
4. Whether you're able to decide what to be and do, make a move. Doing something is the important part. It's also the only way to pass through doors.
5. Luck is a result of diligence and work and focus. You're just starting out, so you can't afford to turn things down. Work begets work.
6. Love what you have and you'll feel like you have everything you need.
7. Be a team player. Leave your ego out of it. As we liked to say in the ‘70s, step up and suck it up.You know this.
8. Stay nice and kind and warm. Build rainbow factories.
9. You're good at forgiving and probaby even better at forgetting, which says a lot about your character (and memory?). In any case, blame is wasted energy and resentment kills twice.
10. Ambition is relative. How much you want something should equate to how hard you work to get it. Don't fear. Cultivate drive not only in yourself, but in the people around you.
11. Never take pleasure in someone else failing.
12. If you coast, you'll atrophy your mind, heart, spirit, muscles. (Don't confuse coasting with downtime; the re-charging the battery can be built into your routine.)
13. You can't always get what you want. But if you try, you just might find you get what you need. If you haven't heard this, reach out to the guys I've known forever (e.g., T, Matt, Trent, et al).
14. For socking money away, building a nest egg and other smart fiscal matters, listen to your Uncle Rob. To stretch a dollar, consult Pavlina.
15. Stay in shape and healthy, and eat slowly. Only one in ten of your relatives knows the Heimlich.
16. Don't compare yourself. You'll end up getting stuck, or worse: getting down on yourself. When you're in a rut, go out and give freely to others.
17. Very important: keep doing things outside of your comfort zone. It'll add to your character, make you a better leader.
18. Be interested. Only boring people get bored. Gram says that.
19. No one's entitled to something not earned. Be wary whenever you hear someone say "I deserve this."
20. You never have an excuse to be rude. Unless, maybe, you're talking to a motorcycle cop. Motorcycle cops don't have human souls.
21. Mother Nature always wins. Be her #1 Fan.
22. Stay open, look outside yourself. Lend an ear, give your smile, extend a hand.
23. If patriotism means having courage and humility, honoring the brave, seeking truth, and doing the right thing, be a patriot.
24. Respect your elders.
25. If you only remember a single prayer, make it "thank you."
26. Please know I'll always have your back.
Kind of long-winded, I know. Am I lecturing? As I said above, I think all this content is as much for me as it is for you. And that same amount is a result of observing all the great people in my life, and scribbling down the words of heroes and heroines I could only dream of meeting.
Anyway, I need to stop writing this letter right now before I get weepy about how far you've come. My point is for you to know how proud I am. And how I will be right there watching you tomorrow while you bask in the glory of your milestone.
For now (in my best ceremonial voice): take on the day -- seize it -- and begin writing your own definition of success! You'll do great.
Love you.
