Hi! My partner & I welcomed our first baby to the world a few weeks ago. Things have been a little complicated and he has been in intensive care since birth.
We have therefore spent a lot of time in hospital which has led to lots of thought about life. I had the idea to write a list of advice that would be useful for him when he is older. I plan on hand writing this, sealing it up, then giving it to him when he is older, maybe 16.
This is what I have so far;
Travel & see see the world while you are young & free of responsibility
Make time for the things that make you happy (hobbies, family, friends etc)
Be adventurous & curious, but not reckless
Throughout life you will face challenges & adversity, learn to find joy in the little things even when times are hard
Treat people with respect, even if you don’t like them
When someone shows you their true character, don’t ignore it
Hard work & a good attitude usually beats intellect. If you want to get ahead in life, outwork your peers
Don’t take life too seriously. There is nothing better than laughing with your friends - so be silly & have fun
You will make lots of mistakes. Be accountable, admit to them & use them as an opportunity to learn
If you don’t understand something, ask questions until you do
Don’t drink alcohol when you are unhappy
Talk through your problems with family & friends
Tell the people you love that you love them regularly
Select your romantic partners with caution, your future happiness & financial stability depends on it
Look after your body, you only get one. Eat well, exercise & stretch!
Be smart with your money, build up an emergency fund and start investing as early as possible
I’m interested to hear what you internet folk would add, remove or change. I am quite sleep deprived writing this, and these notes are a reflection of my own life and experiences. I don’t want it to be ‘rules’, more just useful bits of information that can help him avoid some of the difficulties I have faced myself.
Thank you strangers.
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