Dear Son,

When you came into this world, when spoke your first word, when you walked your first steps, I had never before experienced. You taught me the meaning of love — true, unconditional love.

Life has its ups and downs and is not always fair, but I know your strength and resilience will see you through. You will fall in love, and you will have your heart broken.

As your father, it is my privilege to impart these important truths to you.

You are magnificent exactly as you are. You never need to change who you are for someone else.

Live your own dreams. Figure out what makes you happy and pursue it. Follow a path of your own choosing - not mine, not your mother’s, not your friend's or anyone else’s.

Don’t take life so seriously. Have fun. You get only one life, so enjoy it to the fullest.

Find your soulmate.  As long as you are loved, respected, and treated well, I will always be happy with your choice. Their gender, race, religion, and culture are irrelevant to me.

Be kind, respectful, and loving to yourself no matter what. The way you treat yourself will show others how to treat you, so treat yourself like you would your own best friend.

Don’t be afraid to take risks. The more risks you take, the easier it becomes.

Know that I love you and will always be there for you. No matter what, I’ve got your back. There may be times when we don’t always see eye to eye, but I still love you and always will.