Better to be a little hungry than too full.


15, 21



“But what is grief if not love preserving?” - Unknown


18



Zootopia is a good movie to illustrate what a bully is and how we should stand up to them when they are hurting or taunting other kids.


5-8



Love then when they least deserve it because that’s when the need it the most.


3, 13, 17



Read A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold (mother of Columbine shooter.)


12



Never make a decision from a place of hopelessness.


14, 16, 21



Read “Lighter” by Yung Pueblo. Read it every year.


17, 19, 21



Pour energy into what’s right with you and see what happens.


20, 21



Don’t quit your job until you have another job. Suck it up and make the best out of it.


21



“What do you think about keeping things PG-rated for a while? We’re both just figuring stuff out. The last thing I’d want to do is hurt you.” Or whatever spin you want to put on the idea that there’s no rush, and plenty of amazing sensations to experience and explore, long before things go further than kissing. Hang out in that PG range as long as possible. And if you can’t talk with your partner about that then you probably shouldn’t be having sex anyway.


13, 14, 15, 16, 17



“Natural” deodorant doesn’t work. Go with trusted brands here. There are times when it’s fine not to look your best, but stinky is never okay.


13, 18



“Racism is real, even if you aren’t a racist. White privilege is real, even if you don’t feel it. Police brutality is real, even if the cop you know is kind. Your world isn’t the world. Everything is not about you.” -Mohamed Safa


16, 21



“Life is good when you are happy, but much better when others are happy because of you.” -Pope Francis Endeavor to make people happy by the work you do, by the way you treat them, by your contributions to the world. But don’t ever try to make someone happy by changing yourself.


13, 17



In social situations it's better to talk too little than too much. Don't over-share with people you're not close to.


15



1

Go to minor league baseball games this summer. Better seats, less crowds, easier, cheaper. Great players. Kids won't know the difference.


9-15



Sometimes you don’t know what to do, can’t figure out what’s the right direction for you. That’s okay. Try thinking about what you *don’t* want to do. (See John Cusack career plans speech in 1989 movie “Say Anything.”


11, 16, 19, 21



Drill on stuff that will be valuable throughout their lifetime: Vocabulary, geography, addition and subtraction.


10, 12, 14, 20



Birds of a feather flock together


14



Teach them how to eat a chicken wing in one bite


12



Violent thunderstorms can be dangerous. Avoid driving or being out in severe weather: car accidents, downed trees, high winds, lightning, flash floods, etc. are all potentially deadly. Don’t take your safety for granted. If the weather is severe, stay sheltered unless you absolutely positively have to be out and about.


12-14, 16, 21



People will speak or act in all kinds of unpleasant ways. Stay calm and kind.


14-21



Make a Shutterfly book for each year and give it to them on their birthday.


5-18



Bring Christmas cookies to local fire station and police station. (Annually)


7-14



Hike Jones Run Falls at Shenandoah National Park.


11



Check in on your friends. Even the ones that seem fine.


14-21



1

On days when you wake up tired, sick or just not ready to deal with the morning, just get up and take a shower. Turn up the music. Rally!


17-21



Keep your pants on until you (and your partner) are at least 18. Keep your pants on if you or your partner are drunk. Keep your pants on if you or your partner are not 100% enthusiastic about going farther.


15



Begin again. Whether by choice or necessity, sometimes there’s no other option.


15, 21



Do what makes you happy. But what if you’re not sure what that might be? If you’re at a crossroads and you don’t know where you *want* to go, just go where you’re *needed.* That’s a good first step. Trust the Lord to take it from there.


18