Letter to Tryston

Life is Cruel.

At four years old, you see the good in all people, you smile and talk to everyone, trusting that no one would ever hurt you, but son there are people in this world that aren't so nice, they will tease you for being different from them or for no good reason at all. There's nothing you can do about these types of people, don't focus on them, instead find positive people in life to surround yourself with. People who love you and genuinely care for you, hold onto those people and treasure every moment you have with them.

Life won't always turn out the way you want it or you planned for it to be, there will be times when you will be faced with disappointment rather than success, accept the disappointment and learn from turning negativity into positive change, never giving up on your dreams and goals.

You will face heartbreak, grief, and abandonment by those you love, I pray you don't face much of this in life, but when you do let it be a stepping stone to better things in life, and learn to use those moments to make you stronger.

Be open to life, yes you will find cruelty and suffering, but don't retreat, hide, or build walls up, you will miss great opportunities in doing so. You may get your heart broken 10 times, but on number 11 you may find the most amazing woman. You may be bullied and hurt by people, but for the dozens of jerks you meet in life, you'll meet 1 truly incredible friend who will be there through the toughest times and help create the best times. You may fail many times, but never let it deter you from reaching new heights and accomplishing your goals.

Remember that life isn't a competition, it's a journey. If you spend this journey always trying to impress others, you will never be completely happy. Never allow anyone to decide your future for you, not even me or your dad, we want want's best in life for you, but only you can decide that.

Enjoy life, make life about happiness, continual learning, constant improvement of self and love. Learn to be satisfied with having enough and doing things you love, rather than being so focused on having bigger and better and forgetting what true happiness is all about. Find your passion in life and pursue it, never settling with something you hate, just because it will give you more material things.

Some live by success.
Some live by selfishness.
Some live by righteousness.
These are people who are stressed, unhappy, put their needs before others, lonely, feel the need to degrade and hurt people rather than support and uplift them, who impact others in a negative way.

My son, live by love.

Your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, strangers...show them love. Offer them a smile, kind words, kind gestures, a helping hand. Show them humility and honor, not cruelty and disappointment. Love the person who's been the cruelest, most unkind towards you, he/she is a tortured soul, and the most in need of love. Most of all, love yourself. Other may criticize you, put you down, say harsh things, but through it all, remember that you are a wonderful person with a tender soul, you are worth happiness and love.

Finally, know that I love you and always will, no matter what you do in life I will always support and cherish you. Nothing I will ever accomplish in life will be more important or more significant than being your mother.