This blog post was written in support of the comparethemarket.com Letters of Life campaign - a campaign which aims to encourage parents to think about what key pieces of guidance or life learnings they would like to pass onto their children, so that they will always have a piece of their parent's advice with them come what may. Please click here to find letters from others and advice on how to create your own Letter of Life.
Hi Aly & Mia,
It's Daddy...still, remember me? Did anyone cry when they threw me into the sea? Neither of you had better have cheered, otherwise there will be trouble.
I've returned like Casper...you know, the friendly ghost - not like a scary one from Ghostbusters.
Over the years I've learnt a few things (not many, just a few) that might help you along the way. The main one is that I've left a shed load of money...the problem is I've forgotten when I buried it.
There are three things you need to remember - work hard, be nice, and have fun. These three things - whether online, at work, or in life, will set you right.
There will be times when you're not the quickest or not the smartest, but what gives you the advantage is the ability to work harder than anyone else. That doesn't mean work longer hours, but work smarter during those hours.
Be nice. People react more positively if you smile and say please and thank you. Give it a try... even when somebody cuts you off on the road, or fails to hold the door open for you...remember to be nice. *cough* I always was!
Importantly, always make sure you have fun. The world is too serious and life can be tough, so make sure you always have fun. If you're not, then change something - try not to do things you don't enjoy.
Now I have given you my advice - that you will no doubt ignore, and then suddenly when you're older you say 'oh actually dad was right' - I have a few more things to share that you should keep in mind as you grow older.
I hope you are forever happy. Being a parent doesn't come naturally to most people - it's something you learn along the way, a bit like times tables...no one knows the answers right away, but you get there in the end. Unless it's your mum, and then she's got no chance with her times tables. Maths isn't her strong subject, but no one comes close to her arts and crafts projects.
I imagine by now she's building a giant craft room - just please don't let it get out of control.
I tried to show you some of the World, but it's a big place out there so try and see as much as you possibly can. Life is too short, so make sure you watch the sun rise and set in as many different places as possible.
Never forget me, but don't be sad when you think of me...think of all the happiness.
Love, Daddy