Happy Birthday Opah, I hope today is a wonderful day and you have an awesome time. Congratulations on your big milestone, you may not feel any older than you did yesterday or perhaps you do. Regardless in the eyes of the government you are an adult, and that means you can go to big peoples prison, which means you're a big peoples now. Welcome to all the dread that comes with adult life and I truly hope you can find and enjoy the wonderful and amazing side of it too.
Being an adult isn't all bad, it comes with freedom and independence, respect from your elders, and more challenges for you to put your mind to as well. We all slip up from time to time, you will fail and you will fall short. Don't take any of it to heart. Because that is what defines us as people, it is what builds, strengthens, and gives us character. It's what makes us the people we are today.
You have some big choices ahead of you, they say every dawn is a new chance to make a change, and honestly, our lives are never set in stone. Only you can ever hold yourself back from the greatness you are capable of. Whatever you decide to do in uni, that journey is going to be amazing for you. I said I never regret my life choices, I hope you can find an appreciation in that too. Each and every one of those choices are what made you into the amazing person you are today.
Being an adult won't feel like it at first, but it'll shock you when it happens, people will tell you they're proud of you, they'll look up to you, they'll view you as their role model. They come to you with the their problems, and their weaknesses, and they'll look to YOU for their answers. Trust me, it can be scary. But I'm sure you will be a good role model to those around you and a source of strength, especially for Peanut.
The reality is, people will be blind to your mistakes and struggles, they won't even know you went through them. They only see what you show them, sometimes you need to be open and other times its okay to close off. I just ask that in the upcoming years please don't suffer alone (I can tell you stories), no matter the weight of your choices, your pain and how much you fear you'll burden those around you. The truth is that weight is easier to carry when you let others be there to take the slack, it gives you a chance to breathe and reassess, and those problems won't seem so bad all of a sudden.
This is my little time to say thank you. In the small amount of time I have known you, I have known a sweet and innocent person. Someone who wants to have fun and enjoy life, but also knows there is the expectation to excel. That pressure can be a lot for you, but you have handled it well. You may feel down and out sometimes, but you seem to always be able to bounce back.
Having you around our house has been a big positive for me personally, you bring life into an empty and cold house when Leen is at work, and you bring a world of joy to my wonderful wife and myself.
I am grateful for the little part of my life you have carved out for yourself, I hope that whatever happens in life, our family ties stay strong and you'll always be there for us as a family, and our family will always be there to help you back up, and watch you reach for the stars.
My one tip for life: Never be afraid to ask questions or seek advice, we are built on the lessons we collect in life and you'll learn that wisdom is the foundation we all draw upon to find our way.
I wish you the most wonderful birthday Opah, may your life be filled with happiness, love and a million joyous occasions for you to remember and cherish, from this day until your last.
(or until they turn us into robots)
- much love daz