Grandson advice

Choosing who you want to be and the life you want to live is an active decision that requires you to listen to your inner voice and trust yourself. Every day you have to choose to be the person you want to be and choose to be the person you’re supposed to be. It’s not enough simply to decide. You must actively choose each day. If you don’t, the world will make the choice for you. This is your life, and you only get one chance, so choose the life you want.

It's important to remember that other people may have their own agendas or motivations, so it's essential to make choices based on your own desires and values. You should not let fear or regret hold you back from pursuing the life you truly want. Instead, embrace the journey and the lessons that come along the way, even when mistakes are made. People, for the most part, are good, so judge them by what they do and say, not what they say they will do. Remember most people are only concerned with themselves and how your actions will reflect on them.

Don’t feel you need to have everything figured out. Just listen to your heart and let it guide you. This next part may sound strange. Don’t listen to others when choosing the life you want, not even your mom, dad, granny or me. Don’t rely on others to choose your path. Friends will come and go but true friends will always be with you. Many adults will try to tell you what sort of life you want. They want you to buy their products or work in their companies and if you truly want to do those things, then go for it.

As your granddad, I love and support you, but I can’t make your life choices for you. Do not make your life choices based on my suggestions and guidance, or your mom and dad’s suggestions or guidance to please us. Where will that leave you when we’ve gone? We may not always agree with all the choices you’ll make, but we know they are your choices to make because it’s your life. Your granny and I love you and we support you and we know your mom and dad love you and support you as well.

Speaking of not being around forever… You don’t have any guaranteed time on Earth, either. So don’t - do not - waste a single moment of regret or fear. Ultimately, you should be proud of the life you choose for yourself, knowing that you took ownership of your decisions and stayed true to your heart. The love and support of others are important, but ultimately, it is up to us to shape our own lives and create the future we desire.

Accept that mistakes will happen, but don’t let them stop you. Learn from them and let them guide you toward the life you truly want. Trust your heart and act. And be proud to live the life you’ve chosen for yourself.