This will only take five minutes and it will be my last speech. I say it's my last speech because I'm not sure my previous speeches worked and I'm out of material.
The obligation of any parent is to pass on what they've learned. I tried my best to do that. Any New generation will always say "but the world is different now" and they are partially right. The parents are right too. Although many things change very fast some things stay remarkably constant. ( My parents turned out to be right more times than I ever gave them credit for. )
Here's what I pass on:
1. Experience is the best teacher - if you can survive the experience.
2. The value of a college education cannot be overvalued or over appreciated. Get one.
3. Write down your goals for this week, this month, this year and the next two years. Keep them where you can see them. Keep your goals simple and measurable. Write down why you want to attain them.
4. Spend 70% of your time taking action to attain your goals. Spend 20% of your time refining your goals. Spend 10% of your time in rest and recreation. Spend 0% of your time thinking about the past.
5. Time goes faster the older you get.
6. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
7. When your parents are gone sometimes you will wish they were still around.
8. Of whatever money you make: save one third, spend one third and pay the government the other third. I didn't do this and I wish I would have
I'm not sure exactly what I learned in college but it proved to me that I could do it and it built my confidence in me. It also proved to others that I could do it so they had confidence in me.
I'm not sure exactly what being a Captain in the Air Force accomplished but it proved to me that I could do it and it built my confidence in me. It also proved to others that I could do it so they had confidence in me.
Love,
Your Dad
