Letter To My Grandchildren

Don't go straight to college. Maybe that isn't for you. Take a chunk of that change, fill a few backpacks, and hit the road. The goal is to see how everyone lives and thinks. Stay with friends and parent's friends. See for yourself. Travel to Europe. Visit the west and see the natural wonders. Visit NYC. Stay for a few months. Wear your ass out, then come home. The goal is to figure out what makes you happy. If you aren't sure, that's OK. Just remember to question this at every major decision you make. You now have some perspective. 

Our culture insists we go to college so we can make lots of money. Money money money! THAT will make us happy. It may create more options and has the "potential" to make you happy. If you don't understand yourself in what makes you happy, then you are spinning your wheels.

Not everyone is college material. We all know this, but culture has us pushing kids to college still. Cars, clothes, jewelry. It is an illusion. Shiny objects that you think will make you happy. We are all being programmed. We're more concerned about what others think of us than what makes us happy. The first thing people with real expensive cars do is drive to where there's lots of people to fawn over the car. 

We are a mess. Our goals are to get people to "look at me!". Don't fall for that. It's a short road that has a dead end. Empty fulfillment. It's like a drug where you need more and more. You bought into a lifestyle without knowing or pursuing what makes you happy. No amount of money will sustain your happiness.

Explore your relationships with friends without falling in love with one. Resist it. Figure out who is real, who you can trust. Build a life with friends who make you laugh. Never look down on anybody. Feel free to be different, but don't be different just to get attention. The real value of money is that it allows you to be free, not the lavish lifestyle. If you hate your job, you aren't free. 

Know what makes you happy, and then set your goals around that. Don't be fooled by the shiny objects. Be yourself and don't let money trick you. Don't reject money. Just understand its power. Live to help others where you can. Focus outward to the world and offer yourself to make it better. That is how we are designed. If everybody looked out for others, then we'd be better off. Always check-in with yourself daily to be sure you are happy and learn to take steps in that direction. You got this.