A Letter To Our Daughter

...and a reminder to myself.

Dear Caitlin,

My sweet girl, life has gone by so fast these past few years.... I can't believe you're already almost three!  You continue to amaze and surprise me every single day.  You are so funny and full of joy.  You love to laugh and make jokes.  You have learned your Dad's ticklish spots and love to trade neck kisses (which make you laugh like crazy) all the time.  You love to read Everyone Poops, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, All By Myself, and Little Red Car Has An Accident.  You love to take pictures, but usually have the camera pointed at yourself.  You have started singing the lyrics to Little Mermaid songs and are starting to make up your own little songs as well.  You adore Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Baby girl, your dad and I have learned so much from you and your brother since you came into our lives.  You've both shown me how to just smile and have fun, how to relax and let go.  I never knew love could be so easy until I met you.

If there is anything I can hope to pass on to you, it is especially to erase negativity from your life.  The choice is yours - all you have to do is decide, then take action.  You cannot control anyone but yourself, which is an incredibly liberating realization.  It took me a long time to figure that out; once I did, my life brightened more than I could have imagined.

Try your hardest to be someone you can love, respect, and admire; don't let other people's actions make you be someone you don't like.  You control your thoughts - your thoughts do not control you.  You control your actions.  If you can remember that, you will always be free.

Meditate, pray, whatever you want to call it, but always seek peace within yourself and within your life.  Treat others how you would want them to treat you.  Give love abundantly; it will be returned to you.

Pay attention to your breath - being conscious of an unconscious behavior can bring very positive changes to your life.  Practice cultivating balance, serenity, joy and strength in your everyday actions.  Learning to reflect on and cherish moments that may seem ordinary can make every single day amazing, no matter how mundane it may be. 

Be open to new ideas.  It's very rare that anyone or anything is definitively "wrong" or "right".  Most things are subjective, so take some time to see another point of view.  You may be surprised by what you learn and how much you grow. 

Travel as much as you can!

Take the time to be grateful.  Try hard to not take anything or anyone for granted - you never know when things might change.  I'd hate for you to miss a moment.

Please remember that negative thoughts and feelings tend to harm you more than anyone else.  Find a way to release negative emotion without causing harm.  It will help you live a more joyful life.  Always take responsibility for yourself and surround yourself with people who enrich your life.  Do everything you can to enrich theirs. 

Take care of the Earth.  She nurtures and sustains us.

Be happy, baby.  It is so important to be happy and it is something that you control.  Aunt Margaret says, "Manifest it!" - and she's absolutely right.  You have the ability to make every single day wonderful - all you have to do is decide. 

So many people love you Caitybug.  I hope that every single day of your life will be filled with joy and gratitude, the way you've filled our days with joy and gratitude.

We love you baby, more than we could ever put into words.

Love,
Mom and Dad