By Someone Who’s Made Mistakes and Learned a Few Things the Hard Way
Dear future grandkids,
If you’re reading this, first of all—hi! Secondly, congratulations on being awesome. I say that with total bias, of course, but also with great hope that a few life lessons I pass down might just stick. I don’t expect you to take every word as gospel (unless it’s about never trusting gas station sushi), but here are three things I really, really hope to teach you.
1. Have a Solid Work Ethic (Even if You’re Just Building LEGO Castles)
I don’t care if you grow up to be a surgeon, a chef, a coder, or a professional ukulele player—if you work hard, you’ll go far. Talent is great, sure, but grit? Grit is gold. Grit gets things done when talent wants to hit snooze.
You don’t need to love every job you ever do. Honestly, you probably won’t. I once spent a summer scrubbing boat hulls in the sun while my friends were at the beach. Was it glamorous? No. Did it teach me how to stick with something, show up on time, and take pride in a job well done? Absolutely.
Even if you’re flipping burgers or sorting mail, do it well. You never know who’s watching—or what it’s teaching you. Effort never goes out of style.
2. Don’t Be a Jerk… Seriously
Listen, we all have bad days. Maybe someone cut you off in traffic. Maybe someone ate the last cookie you were saving. Perhaps someone dares to bring decaf to a coffee date. But still, don’t be a jerk.
In every situation, you have two choices: being kind or being “that person”. Try hard not to be “that person”. Trust me, the world has enough of them.
Being nice isn’t about being a pushover. It’s about having emotional maturity and not letting temporary feelings cause permanent damage. It’s about saying “thank you” and “please” and smiling at waiters. It’s holding the door even if you’re in a hurry. It’s choosing grace over grump.
And sometimes, the most challenging person to be kind to is yourself. So don’t forget to be nice to yourself, too!
3. Learn How to Learn. Then Never Stop Learning
Whatever path you take in life, it’s so important to become a lifelong learner. The world is changing fast. The one skill that will always keep you in the game is learning new things.
Whether you’re figuring out how to change a tire, learning Spanish, or picking up the ukulele (see point one), being curious and open to new ideas makes life more fun and fruitful. Read books. Ask questions. Watch documentaries that inspire you. Embrace the phrase, “I don’t know… yet.”
So there you go, kiddo: work hard, be kind, and keep learning. Sprinkle in a little humor and a lot of love, and always carry snacks.
Your grandparent loves you.
