A Letter to My Daughter

Dear A:

In 2001 a hijacked airplane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another bound for the Capitol crashed in Pennsylvania, killing thousands and sending the United States into a tailspin. Months of devastation followed as we, Americans, had to rebuild our nation. The world as we knew it prior to that day has never existed since. Instead, hate, distrust, and intolerance has filled many as the hijackers were from a terrorist organization in the Middle East.

As you grow up I hope to instill into you that the act of a few is not worthy of discrimination of all. That discrimination will not be tolerated in our house, not by creed, color, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. As you grow up should you chose to fall in love and marry (or not marry) someone who is unlike you in all characteristics, I promise you that I will support you. Unless of course that person is not worthy of you. Your dad will probably say no person is worthy of you, but you get my point.

I hope to instill in you tolerance for all people and ideas. In this world you will not get along with everyone. There will be people that you will strongly dislike (I will not tolerate you to say hate in our house). But I hope we instill in you the skills and abilities to coexist with all people. Even if you don't like them or support their beliefs.

I hope to give you the confidence to stand up for what you believe in, even if those around you do not, or even worse if they do and chose not to stand up for themselves. I hope we give you the confidence to explore your ideas, chase your dreams and be open to new experiences and ideas.

I hope to give you the wisdom to make the right choices in life but should you stumble a time or two, I hope you know we will be there for you to lean on. That I love you unconditionally and though we may not agree with all of your choices, we will always support you.

I hope to teach you to give to the less fortunate. There will always be someone less fortunate than you. Count your blessings daily and when given the opportunity help someone in need. If only just a lending ear. I hope we teach you kindness. The world in which you were born is not a nice place and as you grow will probably not get nicer. There are people who are inherently evil. Be kind in action and thought. You never know whose world you might change with your kindness.

I hope to teach you to persevere. Life is not always going to be easy. There are going to be mountains to climb and some days those mountains are going to seem endless. Keep going and never get up.

I hope to teach you to believe in God and prayer. That anything is possible if you believe. That miracles do happen. That not everyone will support your faith, but be steadfast.

Most of all, I hope to teach you to love yourself, to be original, to not compromise who you are for anyone. That you can be and do anything you want to be and do. But do it as you.

I hope you know that the love I have for you today will never go away.