Friday, March 6, 2009

What I hope to teach my kids

There are times when I wonder what my children will remember about me when I'm gone. Will they think I was fun? Will they remember our vacations, and the times we spent watching their favorite movies over and over again?

More importantly, what lessons will they have learned from me? What do I hope will be my legacy in their lives?

I hope to teach my kids to:

Respect life, all life, big and small, rich or poor, human and non-human. Every living thing deserves to be treated with respect.

Respect yourself. Your body is a temple, treat it as one. Respect your ideas, and the person you are and never sell yourself short.

Love life, laugh often, and learn at every opportunity.

No one can put you down unless you let them. Believe in the potential hidden inside of you.

Have faith in something bigger than you. Call him God, or whatever you like, but believe in something bigger than your imagination.

Believe in the power of your dreams. Never give up, no matter how unattainable they seem, never stop believing.

Stay close to your siblings. Even if they drive you crazy, they will defend you against anyone and will stand by you when things are not going well.

Never forget your ancestors and the sacrifices they made. You are able to dream bigger because of the foundation they laid for you. Honor them by going one step further than you think possible.

Travel as much as possible, and respect other cultures. You are not better, embrace the differences.

Check boxes in a form do not describe who you are. Race doesn't matter, neither does gender, religion, or money. Integrity is what counts.

Everyone has a gift. Find yours and share it with the world.

Keep an open mind. Even if you disagree with someone's religion, political views, or philosophy of life, show them respect. It's our differences that make this world interesting.

And when the times come to share your life with someone, and raise kids, make sure love is what guides everything you do.