I may have mentioned this before, maybe not. I never expected to live passed 30. I didn't think 30 was old, I just figured I'd do something stupid and that would be the end for me. Not sure how I arrived at that conclusion but I'm glad I was wrong. The last 6 years have been the best. Part of the reason that I started blogging was to give my son a view into my growth as his father. That I didn't have all the answers, but was wanting to learn and grow for his benefit.
I'll keep blogging in my intermittent fashion (I've got a dozen unfinished posts to mull over) but if I could boil some advice down here's a few things I'd grocery list for him:
1- Sing without shame in the car.
2- Don't have to many heroes. This is a title you should use sparingly.
3- Heroes aren't sports stars
4- Eat lunch at that weird place. Fast food may be risky but it's never exciting
5- Naps are cheap vacations
6- Buy cast iron cookware.
7- You can't be a good parent if you're a bad spouse.
8- Choose to not be offended. This is life changing
9- Treat every gun as if it was loaded
10- If it hurts physically, suck it up
11- Take responsibility.
12- Be content with being quiet and alone
13- Don't "pray". Instead talk with God. He listens
14- Treat waitstaff with respect. And tip well
15- Be competent with a manual transmission
16- If you want a lifetime of regret be angry.
17- Read. Always have a book close by.
18- Open doors for people. Doing so still surprises them
19- When your friend locks himself out of his car and calls from 60 miles away at 10:30 at night and asks you to bring him his spare keys do it. Even if you have to get up at 4:30 the next morning.
20- When that same "friend" turns his back on you a couple years later, forgive him. It's an exercise in Godliness
21- You can be cheap on many things but don't skimp on socks. Buy quality
22- Sometimes being right with God will make you not right with anyone else. It's still better than the reverse
23- Maintain friendships with people quite a bit older than you. You'll learn much and their wisdom can be invaluable
24- Maintain relationships with people fairly younger than you. You know things they need to learn. And they'll remind you of things you've forgotten.
