Life moves by pretty fast: Look around or you might miss it.

May 12, 2023

Dear Kaitlyn,?

Today your door opens to an extraordinary new world – a place known as The Real World.

It is a beautiful disaster of a place. Yet, no one is more equipped to slay the challenges you will encounter and seize the opportunities ahead than you. As you step into adulthood, I have five pieces of advice for you:?

Embrace the suck: Life is going to throw some fast balls and curve balls at you along the way. Some may even strike you in the head and knock you to your knees in pain and tears. But no matter how hard, disappointing or fatiguing things get, don’t run from them – embrace them. Because it is these moments that will make you stronger, braver and smarter. Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Because your life will more likely be defined by how you handle periods of uncertainty and discomfort than periods of certainty and comfort. In short, the bigger the challenge the greater your destiny.?

Share your blanket:?You are going to be gifted with many blessings throughout your life. While I have no doubt you will be the recipient of many treasures along the way that will give you great happiness – I am equally certain you will find even greater joy from the gifts you share with others. So, as you receive the abundant gifts of life, continuously ask yourself who you will share these with.

Hope is not a mirage.?Hope is everything:?You are the poster child of positivity. However, the world is filled with detractors that will try and pull you down and demoralize you. They will tell you hope is a mirage. Hope is not a mirage – hope is everything. The world is powered by dreams and dreamers. As Bruce Springsteen implores – Dream baby, dream!?

Turn off your GPS and turn on your curiosity:??It is easy in today’s world to have an algorithm or app chart your path for you. In most cases it will plot the path of least resistance. As tempting and comfortable as that sounds, I encourage you to choose the path less traveled. It is on this journey you will meet the most interesting people, discover the most unexpected places, and experience the most memorable moments of your life. So, when you find yourself at a fork in the road choose wisely. Because it’s often the wrong turns that lead to the right places in life.

Avoid asking what if and always declare why not:?The biggest barrier to achieving your dreams and happiness is fear. And the vast majority of times those fears will not come to fruition. A hesitant life is the enemy of a vibrant life. The world is filled with “what ifers” – the friends, family members, classmates and colleagues who discourage you from taking chances in life, from rolling the dice, from pursuing your dreams. Find the dream-makers in your life and abandon the dream killers. Moderation is for monks, take big bites in life.?

As you walk through this door, remember Ferris Beuller’s advice:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t take time to look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

?Indeed, some of the most majestic views, epic experiences and treasured people you will encounter may be above you, below you or behind you.?

Most importantly, know that your family is your rock. Like a sailboat at sea, you always have a safe harbor to return when the storms of life capsize your boat. Or, if you simply need to regain your bearings or restock your galley.?

Let me close with these words of wisdom from Mark Twain:?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed with the tings you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

I love you to Mauritius and back, Kaitlyn Rose Olson.

Dad