Wedding day letter to my parents.
To Mom and Dad,
I am writing this the day after my 30th birthday, lying in bed with my future wife snoring in my ear. I’m lying here after dinner, with the courage of a few too many drinks, reflecting on my life. It’s hard. I am a man, but I am still a boy, scared of what’s to come. I have lived my life that way, scared. Scared of what people may think about me, that I may not be enough, that no one will remember my name when I’m gone. Mainly due to the fact I didn’t think I would be here today, many times in my life I didn’t want to make it this far. I’ve dealt with the pressure of my own mind for what feels like forever. Like many men, I feel the pressure to show no emotion, to be bulletproof. I am not. As I am aging I am realizing that it’s not that simple. Nothing is that simple. There is no right way to live life. Life is an ever-changing thing, struggles change day to day. There is no way to be perfect. No one is perfect. I am not perfect, as much as I would like to be. I have done many wrongs. I have lied, hurt, and betrayed your trust many times. Time and time again, through your unconditional love, I have been forgiven. Nothing makes me more sad than thinking of the things I have put you through, but still you’d lay your life on the line for me. For this, I am grateful. Growing up you never think of your parents as people. Although you may have had children before me, I know you realize you are not perfect people. You are not all knowing. You are just people, raising me for the first time. Doing the most you can with what you know. For this too, I am grateful. I aspire to be like you, and more. I aspire to have the love and patience for my future wife and children that you have shown me. I am scared I am not enough to do that, but through your love I will give everything in me to do so. Through love I know realize, it’s not important that people know my name when I’m gone, but that they remember the love I gave. The impact my love has on the lives around me. Love is everything and I love you. Thank you for everything.