ENJOY LIFE

‘And it would [be] so fun to experience some fun stuff b4 highschool ends’, came back a reply from my older daughter today.

She was on her way back from San Antonio with the family and was texting me to ask about wording for a job application. After reading what she wrote, I realised that she didn’t really need my help. She had it all figured out.

The reasoning for her wanting to get a job so desperately is to be able to attend a few concerts before her senior year ends next Spring. I assured her I would help her to the best of my abilities.

‘…enjoy life as much as possible now. You are not guaranteed anything but the present moment’, I texted her.

‘Yes…I wanna have sm fun this year’, she replied. I can imagine how frightening it is for her and for all young people on the verge of having their high school years come to an end. What happens after that is not always what we expect.

As students, we have had the security of knowing what comes next after each school year ends. But after high school, there is a step into the unknown where endless opportunities will await those seniors. Into a void of many possibilities as well as many mistakes which will be made. Mistakes which will ultimately lead to the knowledge needed to make the correct decisions, as it is impossible to learn and grow without making mistakes.

‘Enjoy life. I think we as humans have it all backwards. Work your ass off to save money for later but then you’re too sick or old to use the money for travel and concerts’, I texted to my daughter. I am certain that her father would tell her the complete opposite. However, people will eventually come to their own conclusions as to what works best for them.

‘Ya’, she replied. I could sense both her excitement and her apprehension as to what the future holds. As parents, we want to be able to protect our children from hurt and failure. But that would only serve to hinder their growth.

‘As long as you can pay your basic bills, do what you can to actually enjoy your life’, I continued with my speech. I realise it’s not easy for her to envision a future where she will need to be enslaved to this world where consumerism rules. I can only hope that future generations can make the changes needed for today’s youth to be able to bring more joy to life.

Though we can share with our children the lessons we have learned, we need to realise that time has moved on and how we experienced our youth is quite different than the way today’s youth is living. Every generation wants to believe their time was the best, and in some ways it could be true. But it is also a matter of one’s opinion.

Each of us has a life story that was created from our individual experiences and adventures. As authors of our stories, we have control over the ending. We cannot write our children’s stories, but we can assure them that we will always be there for them when they need us and ask for our advice.

‘I always put things off. ‘Oh, next time…’ but time is running out for me’, I continued.

‘Yea’, she texted back.

‘Do what you love’, I encouraged her.

‘That’s what I’m trying to do’, she replied.