There are a hundred different pieces of advice I could give you my son as you grow up.  It is my intent though to impart this advice less through a narrative to you, and more through my actions and interactions with you…there are a few that I want to list here because they are not just important…they are the very things that will make you a fine and gentle man:

  1. Stop, and think about what you are doing…consider that every decision and action that you take has a consequence…be sure of, and own, the choices you make and the outcomes they deliver.
  2. If someone drops something, help them pick it up…be kind with your words and generous with your time, and treat all people well.
  3. When a girl asks you to dance – dance with her…because there is nothing more exciting than dancing with a girl.
  4. You are not entitled to anything – you must earn everything…realize that anything worth having is always a combination of blood, sweat, tears and toil, and that there is no exception to this rule.
  5. Call your Mom every week – Text your Wife everyday…what’s important here is that what ever you are doing, no matter where you are or how busy you might be, take a minute to communicate your love and appreciation to these women as prescribed – trust me on this.
  6. No means No…respect women, period, or I will kick your ass.
  7. Make a difference in the world…I promise you that if you chose to live your life with purpose, you will be incredibly happy and you will change the world.
  8. It’s okay to fail – it’s not okay to not try at all…be courageous in the face of your fears, and you’ll discover a thousand new things to love, admire and appreciate every single time.
  9. True love is a function of you – not her…it has been my experience that love fails because we are not worthy of it, and only when you understand your responsibility in it, do you finally find it.
  10. You are not me…my hope though as your father, is that you will be the best parts of me and then some, and that through the fullness of time become the reflection of all the hearts and souls that have touched your life.

Photo by Tannis Shaw-Lewis

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Lawrence Lewis

“The sooner you treat your son as a man, the sooner he will be one.” – John Dryden

About Lawrence Lewis

I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂