Letter to my Parents

Thank you.

Those words aren't extravagant enough to contain how I feel about you.

Thank you for the tough decisions you've made and thank you for the sacrifices you made every day to put me in front of your own needs. Thank you for teaching me right from wrong and how to make my own decisions. Thank you for encouraging me to be myself and to do my own thing--within reason. Thank you for keeping me grounded and thank you for teaching me how to spread my wings. Thank you for preparing me, as much as a parent can, for this world and all of the nastiness in it. Thank you for always making me feel like I mattered. Thank you for the "special" days. Thank you for the dates, the one-on-one time, the attention. Thank you for allowing me to learn from my own mistakes. Thank you for allowing me to learn from yours.

You see, as every day passes, I see you. I hear your voice when I speak, I see your hands when I type. I see your mannerisms when I meet new people, I see your work ethic when I'm at work. I think your thoughts when I'm struggling and I feel your emotions when I experience something you've done 20 years prior. I see your tendencies, I see your weaknesses, I see your strengths--all inside of me, showing themselves and catching me by surprise.

After every day in this world, I understand more about you. Why you've acted the way you have, why you made those decisions. Why you are who are today and why it's important to you. What makes you tick and what scares you to pieces.

I can't promise I won't make the same mistakes at times, but I'll do my best not to. I also can't promise I won't get distracted and lose sight of the important things, but I promise to return. What I can promise is that I won't settle. I won't throw away the opportunities you've afforded me, the time you've given me, on less than I deserve. There may be setbacks, but I promise to call before I make hasty judgment calls. I promise to listen to you. Maybe we won't always agree and maybe I'll still make my own decisions, as you taught me to, but I promise to take your opinion with much priority because I'm now old enough to know you're the smartest people I've ever known.

Thank you and I love you.

Those words still aren't extravagant enough to contain how I feel about you.

I love you to infinity and beyond, more/most/second/best (MMSB) and I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssssssssss much!

No, still not even close. But know that despite my inadequate words, you are loved.

And appreciated.

I love you.