The Top Life Lessons I Want My Kids To Learn, As Young Adults

Some Top Life Lessons I Want My Kids To Learn, As Young Adults.

Carter, Addison and Delaney - Occasionally, I get sentimental and think about what if I suddenly wasn't here with you, what would I want you to you know? Although it may be silly, to think about, it makes me feel more at peace to write down my thoughts to you. So at aged 37, here are a few life lessons I want to instill in your three.  In my opinion, these are some of the most critical moments in your life.

1. In middle school and high school, really think about what you want to do as a career, in your future. Don't wait until your junior year in college to start really thinking about it. Be proactive, ask to shadow or interview your mom and dad’s friends and learn about what it really is like to do their job. Ask to volunteer in their office on the weekends or Summers or  buy them lunch. By the way, we expect you to work every single Summer and really think about the type of job you want to have as an adult. Everyone you meet between the ages of 10 and 22, I want you to be asking them about their career, what they like, don’t like about it, how they got there…
2. The people that you hang around are the most important decision you can ever make. It is true… you will become who you hang out with. This is true if you are in middle school or if you are 25, 35 or 55 years old. Really think about this. It doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with other people, but these people shouldn’t be your “inner-circle” or your very best friends.
3. Travel right after college, while you are single and also, right when you get married. Take a big trip - maybe a week or two in Europe, Australia or Africa. See some of the world and other cultures, at this stage in life because once you have children, they are your focus and leaving for longer than 4-5 days shouldn't be priority during that chapter in life, when they are young. While you are in other parts of the country or world, really take time to immerse yourself in their country! Stay with locals, dine with them, try to learn about them and speak their language.
4. From Day 1 of your very first real job, put 15% of your income in your 401K and don’t ever take it away or decrease it. I promise that you will be beyond thrilled in your 30’s, and I am assuming in your 40’s and especially 50’s and 60’s - when you have millions. If you start on day 1 at 22 years old, saving 15% will never effect your quality of life. Just DO IT, put it on “auto” and don’t ever think about stopping or decreasing it. Just have the mentality that it is a non-negotiable.
5. Who you marry, in my opinion, is the single biggest decisions you will make in your entire life. Take this decision very seriously and don’t rush into this.
6. Be intentional with several things in life, but especially, with raising your children. You only get one chance to do this. You don’t have to be perfect but be intentional.
7. Step out of your comfort zone in life. Learn something new and always try new things. As you get older, this desire will get less and less, but fight it and keep trying new things.
8. Always be learning - I mean always. It takes diligence and planning. Try to listen to audio books, maybe 1-2 a month, read, watch cool educational shows or listen to podcasts (or whatever the technological invention is in 10-20 years. Some call this Franklin’s Five Hour Rule: one hour a day on every weekday. If you make it a priority and habit, you can do it!
9. There will be time you want to give up. There will be semesters hard in college, there will be a job or manager that you truly hate... but don’t give up. Instead, focus on the positive, control the controllables, put your head down and work hard. Don’t let one person, like a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, teammate at work cause you to make a life changing decision on a whim. Stay true to who you are, your morals and your gut! Your gut is very important to listen to in life.
10. Do the right thing…. even when no one is looking... even when it’s hard. When you are young, it will be stopping to wash your hands while at school when you are in 5th grade. In middle school, it may not be quickly copying a friends homework, even when they say it’s okay. In high school, it may be having to make the really hard decision to leave a party where bad things are going on. It could be making a hard choice, when at the time, it seems like all the cool kids, are doing the other thing. In the real world, it could be going to your company's H.R, when you know something really bad is going on in your company. As a spouse, it can be saying sorry when you are wrong and as a parent it can be saying no to your amazing child when they ask for a sleepover at a home where you don’t know the parents.