“If we could see our prayers we would never stop praying.” - Bunmi Laditan, by way of her angel.


11, 17



Motivation: Just start. Two minutes. You don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance to feel good.


16



I’m cool with “C”s. Do good work but don’t put too much pressure yourself.


14



Watch “The Sandlot” together. Great story about friendship and showing up for each other.


8



Do something that feeds your soul every day. Experience or create joy, even if just a small spark of it.


17



Watch awards shows (Oscars, Grammy's, Tony's, ESPY's, Image Awards and CNN Heroes awards.) Be a part of your times, appreciate others' accomplishments. Be inspired.


8-18



Adult whining is worse than kid whining! We all have unpleasant comments to say in every day life, but do your best to keep snarky comments to yourself. Be mindful of what you're putting out there.


12-16



Make sure you always have Uber gift cards on hand for friends, emergencies or whatever.


15-18



Enroll in a CPR course. Re-certify every year.


13



“You can miss a person every day and still be glad that they’re no longer in your life.” — Oprah Winfrey


19



Live a life of dignity and joy.


14, 21



Zoom out! Perspective is your friend. At certain times in our lives we have the focus turned up so high that we don’t see beyond ourselves. (Adolescence is one of those times, totally natural.) Zoom out. You’ll feel better.


13, 15, 17, 21



Begin planning trip for 10th bday. Maybe to Atlantis in Bahamas or someplace he’d be excited about._____Get him involved in planning and saving.


8



Don’t stay down too long.


16, 19, 21



Wipe your kids’ tears when they’re sad. Smile with them when they are happy. Hold them close when they are scared. And let them see your tears, smiles, and fears too. This is how you teach them to be a human in this world.


6



There IS such a thing as coming on too strong. Err on the side of leaving them wanting more.


15, 18, 21



Which line of poetry would you get tattooed?


17



Just love ‘em up. Be patient and kind. Be present. Listen. Play. Take care of their needs. Each one will be different and need you in different ways. That’s all, just fill them with love and security and they’ll grow up beautifully.


1-18



Santa not being real https://i.pinimg.com/736x/73/39/2a/73392a10d420aed79074da6511b131a7.jpg


11



Sometimes progress is slow - Keep working. Sometimes change is swift - hang on!


16



Don’t waste your life’s purpose worrying about what other people think about you.


12, 15, 21



There’s one thing I’ve noticed that makes the difference between an adult and someone who is over 18: That person’s proclivity for reading. Books make you smarter, yes but they also make you kinder, funnier, more empathetic and more tolerant of opposing viewpoints. Travel has a similar effect but is a lot more expensive! If you want to be a genuine grownup, read (or listen to) everything you can get your hands on.


10, 14, 16, 20



Intimacy is a feeling of safety. To let yourself be seen, touched, known, without defenses.


17, 21



Let them borrow your calm. Little ones (grownups too) sometimes just need to freak out a bit. Stay there. Be near. Don’t judge or even help. Just be there, and stay calm. Your loving energy is all they need as they work through it themselves. Keep them safe but other than that don’t help or advise unless they ask.


2-6, 17, 21



Practice road-rage roll playing. People are NUTS! It's hard to imagine how you'll react when someone gets aggressive with you. Let's practice staying calm when someone is shouting and in your face.


15-17



Biographies: Be inspired.


12



“Don’t chase your dreams


14, 17, 20, 21



Just show up. That’s all we can really control. Show up, (don’t run) and take it from there. You got this.


21



“Never be sorry for not knowing


17, 21



One of my favorite scenes in a movie is James Bond with Pierce Brosnan. Bullets are whizzing by him and he just so of gives a mildly annoyed look while focusing on what he’s doing. It’s quintessential cool.


15, 21