Dear Max,

Just suck it up and read the directions. It’s no fun but it’s better than wasting twice the amount of time doing something wrong.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

When it comes to friends, love and milkshakes, be inclusive.

When it comes to work, life decisions and style, be exclusive.

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

Have you ever chose to be silly for an entire day, made up a game and changed the rules along the way, laughed until your cheeks hurt, ate until you threw up, stayed up until dawn, listened to music on 11, played guitar until your fingers bled, drove to the coast, swam while eating, read a magazine from the back to the front, worked out then ate a Big Mac, spent a day quoting an old movie, made so many inside jokes you forgot what the outside looked like or built something knowing it’ll probably fall apart? 

Have you ever pondered the meaning of ‘popular,’ wore the same pants for 5 days in a row, went away for a week and only packed a carry on, laughed at the same joke 100 times over like it was brand new, thought the food at the roadside diner was the best you ever had but when you went back not at 3am realized that it actually was a form of low grade dog food, wrote a song for someone, stopped to get gas while getting attacked by about one million fish flies and getting back on the freeway realizing that no gas pumped into your car, played a gig so late that you literally went home had more breakfast and went straight to work knowing you still had to go to class later that night, closed a bar on a school night with your band, ate a whole pizza, bought a Costco cake and four spoons and ate it without plates, went to six restaurants in one night for your birthday and ate at all of them or owned more black shirts than Carter has pills?

Have you ever deeply loved someone more than yourself? 

I’ve answered yes to all of these. It’s up to you to make your own list. I’ve discovered that the meaning of life is enjoying yourself. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just enjoy yourself.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

My dad used to tell me “you catch more bees with honey than vinegar.”

He would tell me this whenever he was negotiating something. It means that it’s easier to persuade people to go your way when you are nice to them. 

Some people yell to get their way – he called this vinegar. That just wasn’t my dad’s way. He was nice to people and he took an interest in them. Then he poured on the honey. Not in a cheesy way, but in a sincere way. Because he truly cared about people. 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

Anybody can bring a problem to the table. You can bring a solution. 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

You never really say goodbye to people you encounter in your life. That could be a good thing but can be a bad thing. It’s important to remember because the world is so small, especially with our connected world today. You’ll be surprised who you’ll run into later in life and where they’ll end up. 

Burning a bridge early on is the last thing you want to do for your future.

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

There is a good and a bad way to fail. Let’s start with the bad:

• Shutting down
• Complaining
• Stopping
• Focusing on the failure
• Poor sportsmanship

Now the good:

• Taking accountability and learning from the mistake
• Seeing it as an opportunity to connect with someone else to make yourself better
• Continuing to move forward

Which makes most sense to you?

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

You will have to make thousands of decisions daily, and you want to make sure you make the right one. When you’re in a group, decisions become even more difficult. If you are the subject matter expert on a topic feel free to stand up and take the lead. Trust in what you know and guide others down the right path. Just as important as it is to lead, you should also know how to follow. If you aren’t the subject matter expert take a backseat and learn the processes. Step up to help when you can, and take constructive criticism like a champ. 

You can be a leader by following and setting an example for other followers. When the timing is right you will be seen as a successor to the leader when he or she moves on.

Lead. Follow. Continue moving forward.

Love,

Dad

Dear Max,

My dad always used to tell me that “Holidays are for kids.” I never really realized it until a few years ago when there were no kids at any of our holiday parties. Now that you’re around I understand even more. It’s so much fun putting together an Easter basket for you or watching you open Christmas gifts. 

Kids keep the holiday spirit alive. They make it fun. Thank you for coming into my life and making holidays fun again.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Max,

Sometimes it’s not about giving advice, a gift or telling someone what to do. Sometimes it’s just about being there for a friend. 

Love,

Dad