Son, you know how much I love you. Please don’t hurry to live.
This life is beautiful. It has so much to offer. It has so much to take from you.
I always noticed how you were eager to learn everything. How you were eager to go outside and play with other kids. To be the best. To score more goals, to read more books, to go get all A’s. Just like me.
To graduate school with honors, to get into a top university, to get your first convertible car, to work hard and be successful. To get the best girl to fall in love with – and you have a lot more options than I did, believe me!
To get into a big company, to learn all the ropes, to become successful, to have the best.
To be kind to people, to know your roots, to be respectful to your parents and never get into trouble. Avoid bad habits and risky ventures, but you’re so young and I understand that early success makes life less challenging but you have to try.
Please don’t go for more money. Please don’t go for fame and more shallow friends. Don’t go for lovers who don’t care about you and alcohol and drugs that won’t fix your problems. Don’t hurry to live.
Please don’t sit in front of the car drunk and press the pedal thinking that you’re invincible. Don’t hurry to live.
But you did. And here I stand, crying, begging you to slow down, but you didn’t listen to me. Now it’s too late.
Here I open my eyes, smell your head on my shoulder, you’re only three years old, hugging my head. Son, please, don’t hurry to live.