About If This Was My Last Post To You

Dearest MJ,

I just finished writing you a post about how nothing lasts forever and how our time here is short. So, with that in mind, I just wanted to write to you as if this were my last post (and I sure hope that it isn't!). So, for as long as I'm around, this will be a list that will be updated here and there.

1. Your mother and I loved you before you even came into this world
2. You are loved and you are a miracle.
3. Everything around you is a miracle, if you only look hard enough.
1. Thus, beauty is all around us
4. Nothing lasts forever
1. ... so learn to let go
5. Treat every sentient being equally with compassion and empathy
1. ... if not, then at least do no harm
6. Stay true to yourself
7. Live with strength, courage, determination, and perseverance
8. Embrace technology
9. Learn basic survival skills and how to be resourceful
10. Get your hands dirty
11. Live in the moment
1. Let go of the past because it's done and there's nothing you can do to change it
2. Let go of expected outcomes of the future because you can't predict it, so just enjoy the ride
3. There is only now
12. There are things you can control, but far more things that you can't
1. The ones you can control are mostly found within you
2. The ones you can't control are are mostly outside of you
13. Do your best
14. Never stop learning
15. Life is not perfect and that is why it is perfect
16. When you fall, just get back up
17. When you make mistakes, just learn from them
18. When you fail, just try again
19. Collaboration > competition
20. Adversity is a character builder
21. Love, material things, and food were meant to be shared; that is how they are truly enjoyed.
22. Be aware of the illusions of the ego
23. Just be aware (and not "beware," I'm talking on a more esoteric level)
24. Everyone and everything is your teacher, so be open to learning
25. Be open to all possibilities
26. Don't take yourself too seriously
1. Have fun!
27. We are all connected
28. Do not take people you care about for granted
29. Humans all want to feel valued
30. There aren't many things more important than family and friends
31. The reality of our society is that we cannot escape or be above material goods, but often we confuse price and value. So, remember, it' doesn't matter so much about how much you paid for something, but rather how much it's worth. And when I talk about "worth," go beyond dollar signs.
32. Look deeper and beyond superficialities such as color, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, borders, age, status, looks in general, material things, and etc etc etc to appreciate others and yourself for your true essence. None of those things define you or others. You just are who you are.
33. Treat everyone equally
1. There will always be someone better than you at something and have more things, but it doesn't matter and make him/her better than you as a person
2. There will always be someone worse than you at something and have less things, but it doesn't matter and make him/her worse than you as a person
3. In other words, it's not your place to judge people let alone on superficial bullshit.
34. Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt because we don't know nor will we ever know for sure what someone's true story is and why he/she does the things that he/she does
35. Seek the truth
1. Stick to the facts
36. Think critically
37. Love one another
38. Be happy

Of course, I could be wrong about all of this. So, go out there and experience life!

With unconditional love,

-Dad