Advice to my Daughter Turning 21
Take good care of yourself and get what you need in your life
to stay balanced and healthy. Watch your stress. You will continue
to do things that are hard, that are stressful at times, and you will handle yourself well, but our world needs people like you at their best,
so put yourself first sometimes and take good care of yourself.
Spend more of your time with people who really know you
and appreciate who you are, people who genuinely care about you,
people who encourage you and lift you up,
people who can selflessly celebrate your life.
Don’t let anyone suck the light out of your life or give you back
so much less than what you deserve.
Tolerate your mistakes and don’t let “getting it wrong”
define you or trigger your fears.
Measure success by how willing you are to keep trying—
again and again—despite getting it wrong.
Trust the process and trust yourself
and keep your sights set on where you’re going.
Advocate for yourself, stick up for yourself,
stick by what you believe in.
You are one of the most sensible and reasonable people I know.
Don’t get caught up in making other people happy.
Maintain your good sense of humor and find
people who appreciate that and can make you laugh.
Happy birthday, my 21 year old amazing young woman.
You are more amazing than I ever could have dreamed you would be.
Live your dream and be the person you want to be.
Love, Dad
