this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

Dear little brother,

Congratulations! You've graduated from high school! Welcome to the real world.

First, let me say that when one of the speakers at your graduation ceremony said that the people around you, the people who had spent the last four year with, will always be close friends - chances are he lied. You may think otherwise, but you will probably grow apart and choose different paths and it will be sad but it will be okay. I'd venture to guess that the best friends you'll have are people you've never met yet. My one bit of advice here is to find friends who really and truly share your values and beliefs.

The world is like an open book for you, a book that you don't know the ending to. You may think you do, but you don't. And that's okay. You don't have to have all the answers now. You don't need any of them actually. But I encourage you to do something out of your immediate comfort zone. Go on a mission, move to a different city, something that scares you just a little bit. Staying at home all day and all week and getting really good at Mario Kart and eating Mom and Dad out of house and home is not scary, so don't do it. But living at home for awhile is fine. Mom'll make sure you know how to do your laundry and whip up some mac and cheese, if she hasn't already. But don't quit your day job.

You're older than you think you are, yet still so young. You're not too young to start saving for something big - like a house or your retirement. But you're young enough that there's no need to go out buy things you can't afford. Start living within your means now and before you know it you'll be able to afford everything you want and more.

Enjoy life now. Enjoy being a college student. Enjoy being a single working guy. Enjoy whatever it is you choose to do. Someday you'll look back and realize what a wonderful time it truly was.

Love, your big sister

photo by ? Wim