Just to let you know – you are now old. You never imagined that you would be the same age your dad was when he died. How could you? I thought I would give you a little advice to make the road to your future a little smoother.
First, please be more careful with your body. There has not been one ear infection, sprained ankle, or fall that will not later affect your health. At the time of the injury, healing took no time at all, but I can attest that each of these will manifest into hearing loss, arthritis, or other nuisance. Currently, there is a pandemic that has caused the deaths of millions of people worldwide. Although many of the deaths are attributed to the health of the elderly, many young people will suffer from the effects of this disease. There is still much to learn about COVID-19, and looking back on my past ailments, I am concerned about what long-term effects will be on younger populations. When I was young, I thought I was invincible and took the risk of injury without any consequences.
Secondly, do yourself a favor and stop worrying about fitting into the status quote. Everyone has their own idea of success, and you’ll find yours. It might not be your parents’ idea of success, but that’s okay. I need to admit that I have struggled most of my life trying to fit into my family’s, my country’s, my church’s, my community’s idea of success. Find out what makes your life have meaning; this may take some time. I recently went back to school for Media Design, and although I am very much a non-traditional student, it’s something that I have always wanted to do. But you already know that.
For now, that’s a couple of pieces of advice. Be kind, be safe, and remember to breathe.
