Note to my kids

Every day is a surprise with each of you. You haven't been tainted by the world and it's a blessing to witness your natural spirits emerge. Now kids, you know I'm not religious... blessings contain immense gratitude toward an experience. Divinity is a word to describe metaphysical phenomena but at the end of the day is a limiting word; just like God.

You see kids, God the interaction between perception and consciousness. It has various descriptions depending on where someone is from or what they have been through. It can be described as a man in the clouds who has the power to perform miracles but not enough power to prevent the need for them in the first place. It can be described as a mind state that is unattached from mental interpretations (desires, self-doubt, judgment). It can be the gentle breeze on your face as you watch the sun melt into night.

As much as I would like to hold your current image in my head until the end of my time, it would be unfair to both of us. Your life belongs to you and you are free to shape your own experience. I am always here to listen to your experiences and offer guidance when asked. Each fall, scrape, and bandage is a lesson. Later, each betrayal, heartbreak, and social catastrophe will serve the same purpose. No one can fix your problems. No one can live this life for you.

I'm currently trying to weave out the phrase "I CAN'T DO IT. CAN YOU HELP ME" and replenish it with "This is difficult. Can you show me how to do it?". There are times to ask for help but developing the will to persist through frustrations is the most powerful tool you can carry. Be resourceful after you fulfill a sense of inner curiosity. Don't abandon yourself before you fully fail, several times. Chances are you CAN do it after learning how. And even if you come back later and kind of forget, "Can you show me how, again?" isn't a bad question either.

Stay curious and try to stay calm. "Breathe through your nose. Say 'I got this'."

Love,

Dad