Some years ago, my lovely daughter graduated from high school. I put the following letter in her yearbook. I post this here not because I feel I am the perfect parent, far from it. I am every bit as capable of screwing up as anyone else and have done so many times. I post this to perhaps put in perspective and hopefully ease some of the stress associated the path beyond graduation. Choice of college, career and so on. It is sad that we expect one so young, to make such monumental decisions. Unless they have a clear path in mind, I have often felt perhaps a two year associates degree should more than suffice, until a clearer vision of who they are and wish to be emerges. Sadly, we do not give our youth much freedom in that respect, although we certainly can and should change that, all it takes, is a simple choice to do so. On to my letter, hope you enjoy…..

Dearest Tara,

June 16, 1984, 7:35am, I am blessed to bear witness to the miracle of your arrival on the planet and further honored to be one of the first human beings to hold you. The beginning of the wondrous journey of your life.

Congratulations my precious daughter on your high school graduation. On to your next adventure! Your future awaits. The possibilities are endless. You can be, do or have, whatever it is you desire. All of life is choice, YOUR choice. Know that whatever you choose to be or do, it is never too late to change course. Simply choose to. Do nothing that you don’t want to! Whether you wish to be president, a humanitarian worker in a far off corner of the globe, a clerk in a store, a janitor or anything in between, know that you have my eternal support.

Be the source of your life experience. Create it, do not merely react to it. Although all circumstances may not always be what you wish them to be, your response to them, ALWAYS is. As you create your journey remember the following: You are not the money, the job, the car or any “thing” you may possess. You are a physical manifestation of Divinity itself, as are all other beings on this planet. See this Divinity in others, even if they can not see it in themselves. Always seek power with others, never power over others. Be kind to yourself, as well as others. Forgive yourself  your perceived failings, for this is no such thing as failure, you walk away from every experience with gained wisdom, even though sometimes it may not be immediately apparent. Be compassionate. Most of all, love yourself. A very simple way to obtain these things for yourself is to give them to others. The great truth is, we are all One. What you do for another, you ultimately do for self. Whatever you give away, you get back tenfold.

Need nothing, desire everything, choose what shows up. Do your best to relinquish requirements, conditions and judgment. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have, no one does anything inappropriate given their view of life. Beside taxes and the eventuality of transitioning from this particular physical form, there are no guarantees. However, I can give you one guarantee as you create the journey of your life. You will always have my Unconditional Love. There is nothing you can do or say that would change that. For this love costs nothing, demands nothing, requires nothing, it simply is. Although I know you do, I do not even require you to love me back.

I am very proud of you and honored to be your dad.

Much love,
Pops.

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