17/ from learning, from logic and experience. If I could, I would describe it for you; I can’t. Perhaps you will agree when you are older.
I also want to tell you about me, my life, my thoughts, perhaps you can gain some understanding of yourself through understanding me.
Conversation
18/ If I was going to describe my own impulses in a paragraph, it would be advice to you as well, so here, in Lao Tzu’s words, it is:
“He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls others may be powerful,
3
1
56
19/ but he who controls and has mastered himself is mightier still. He who receives his happiness from others may be rich, but he whose contentment is self-willed has inexhaustible wealth. He who occupies a place provided for him by others may live a long life, but he who dwells
1
1
46
20/ in his own self-constituted place, even though he decays, is eternal.”
That bit of wisdom really embodies many of my goals, and many of my beliefs.
You will always be only as good, only as happy, only as successful as you perceive yourself to be.
2
5
60
21/ Happiness springs from within, never from without. Virtue too; honor; and love. All the things that make a life worth living. Thus, if you are unhappy, don’t look outside yourself for causes, the reside within;
1
5
60
22/ likewise, if, like me, you are happy, understand the source within your soul.
Love,
Dad
2
47
23/ I wrote all of the letters by hand in the same journal, but you don't have to--the central aim is for you and your child see how you and they have changed over the long years between newborn and age 21. If you want to do it another way, like video or audio, go for it.
3
1
62
24/ I think the vastly more important thing is communicating with your kids in an unrushed, thoughtful way. Everyone has busy lives and I remember being a 27 year old with two children under 3. Life comes at you fast during those times, but if you can slow it down and tell your
2
2
72
25/ kids what you think about a lot of aspects of life you find important, I think they will cherish it for the rest of their lives. You will too.
25
3
127
Replying to
(Jim I met you briefly at CC, I'm sure you met thousands of people, but this advice was the thing I approached and thanked you for. It's amazing how much we forget from the kids different stages and this let's us preserve the feelings of the stages. Pics can't quite do that)
3
8
Thank you for sharing this, both of you. <3