godson.md

Dearest Saul,

As I write this, you are a cute little bundle of joy that needs his parents to take care of his every needs. As you read this, I hope you are a dashing young man ready to take on the world on his own.

Now life as a young man has never been easy. I apologise for my generation's role in making it particularly hard for yours. But I hope these words will help make up for it in some small way.

So, in no particular order, here are some things that I hope you'll bear in mind:

1. Know that, as long as I am here, I will always be there for you. My love for you is without condition. And if you ever need help with anything, material or otherwise, I will never judge you for asking.

2. In conversations, if someone mentions something that you don't know about, never be afraid of asking them to explain. Most people are afraid of looking foolish in front of others, so miss out on these opportunities to learn. Don't be like them.

3. I'm sure you've inherited this from your father, but always share your knowledge freely with others. Not only will others appreciate you for this, but it will also help you understand things better for yourself.

4. Know as much about everything as you can. But don't just be a generalist. Master at least two domains. The self-confidence this will give you will make you very attractive.

5. And speaking of attractiveness, when dating, always follow the two rules: 1. be attractive, 2. don't be unattractive. Thanks to your parents you are gifted with the first. It's up to you to not screw up the second.

6. Figuring out who you are is not easy. Don't let yourself be defined by such base matters such as gender or sexuality. You are so much more.

7. Take every opportunity to explore the world while you're young. Having the time to travel and see new places will only get harder as you get older.

8. When helping others, do so without expectation of them returning the favour.

9. Give your life a goal — no matter how improbable it might be to achieve. Without a goal to anchor you, it is all too easy to drift through life aimlessly. Be the master of your own destiny.

10. Our failures are the steps we climb. Failure is both natural and an important part of learning. It doesn't make you any less of a person. And as long as you learn from your mistakes, it will only make you stronger.

11. Persevere in whatever you set out to achieve. Giving up is easy. But seeing things through will transform you in ways that you can't imagine until after the fact.

12. To be happy, avoid comparing yourself to others. Instead, compare yourself to the person you were yesterday, and be better than that.

13. When getting a duvet, make sure it's one size bigger than the bed. You will be so much more comfortable. And few things in life are as important as sleeping well.

14. Have at least one EPIC love. Falling in love is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. And despite the potential for heartbreak, it is well worth it.

15. Treat others with kindness and compassion. But also know that there are a tiny minority of people who are just dicks no matter how treat them. Treat these people as they deserve — like dicks.

16. Eat well and eat moderately.

17. We are all, sadly, shaped in large part by how others perceive us. So make sure to surround yourself with the kind of people that make you the best possible version of yourself that you could be.

18. Be yourself and know who you are. But also be a chameleon — able to blend into any social setting.

19. Stand up for the world the way it should be.

20. And, finally, your mother loves you and will be thinking of you every day. It won't always be easy, especially when you are embroiled in your own problems, but always, always try to make time for her.

I am very much looking forward to our time together as you grow up. I hope you enjoy it as much as I no doubt will. And as you start your journey into adulthood, I wish you a fantastic life filled with magic and colour.

Ever, Your Godfather, tav

Thanks @tav :)