A letter I wrote to the kids with my hopes for them and our "year outside the box" ...
To my beloved babes,
It’s on! We’re doing this! Other than your births, I have never been more excited about an upcoming event in my life than the prospect of spending this next year on the road with you, my favorite people on the planet.
I know we are going to have a ton of fun and that we’ll see and meet cool people and places, but above and beyond that my hope for you is the following:
I hope that you will discover new things that excite you, fire you up and inspire you to be the extraordinary human beings that you are. I hope that you will begin to see the vastness of options you have available to you in this lifetime. I hope you’ll find yourself amongst people, places and things that fill you with inspiration ... to be joyful, courageous, curious, kind, confident, compassionate, healthy, grateful, and disciplined.
Outside of the boundaries of school and schedules, I hope you will continue to uncover the power of your own self-discipline. Discipline gets a bad rap and we’re told that it’s hard work to be disciplined. The truth is that discipline allows us to learn through grace, rather than grief. It is the easy path. It is the source of your personal power, your health, your joy. Hold yourself to the highest standards. Show up fully. Strive for greatness.
I hope you will begin to blaze a new trail, a new model of success. In our current culture, much of what you are taught about the path to success is based on an outdated ideal. Yes, we are very fortunate for the “box” that we live in, but use this opportunity to remind yourselves that our little box is a mere speck on this huge magical planet. Sometimes we need to step out of our box to find gratitude for what we have but also to discover things we may not yet have known we desire. If you can recognize the difference between fleeting, superficial pleasures and enduring joy, following your bliss will be your ultimate guide toward your greatest success.
I hope you will come to know in a deeper way that helping others is the key to living a joyful, fulfilled life. Through no fault of your own, so much of your everyday lives centers around your small world. And yet it’s known in the circles of many of the wisest teachers that sustainable joy can never be found in a self-centered mind and life. My hope is that together we will find new ways to share our blessings with the world and discover new depths to our generosity and kindness.
I hope you will have the opportunity to deeply connect with the magnificence always available to you in nature. It will show you the truth of who you really are and your mother earth will always be available to fill you with an abundance of love and peace.
I know many of your dreams; I am honored that you share them with me. I also know that you will create new ones as you learn more about yourself and this world in which we live. I hope you will learn from this experience that taking risks always pays off. Fail. Succeed. Always be growing. Find tools, maps and mentors to guide you on your path. Create a clear vision of the life you desire. Shoot for greatness. Again, be disciplined.
You have everything you need to achieve your dreams. Please don’t ever join the “real world” … it doesn’t exist. Create your own world. Don't ask others for permission. Make your health a priority. Continuously seek out inspiration and seek to inspire. Contribute to the success of others and look to others’ successes to model. Share your passions. Be compassionate. My hope is that you’ll always come back to joy as your compass.
Since the time when your dad and I first started dating over 17 years ago, we have had one quote that has followed and inspired us on our entire journey together. I know you know it well and I share it with you again as I think it perfectly frames the adventure we are about to embark upon.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Dare to live the life you have imagined!” - Thoreau
Let’s do this my loves. We’re gonna have a ton of fun!
XOXO
