Cruz With Purpose - A Letter To My Son
Dear Cruz,
Your journey into this world started earlier than expected. You arrived 6 weeks early and spent the first 2.5 weeks of your life in the NICU attached to a lot of machines. You were tiny, weighing in at only 4.5 pounds. I was so excited to meet you, but I was also very scared. Every time I went to feed you, you would stop breathing and turn blue, and the alarms on the machines that you were attached to would sound. As each week passed; however, you gained strength. You showed how resilient you can be in the face of a challenge. We are so grateful to have you with us, and you truly complete our family.
As we approach the celebration of your 1st birthday, I wanted to write a letter to you to share what you mean to our family and my hopes for you. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to raise you into the man that I hope you’ll become, and as you grow, I hope I can impart upon you 3 things: 1) The value of resilience, 2) A kind and gentle spirit, 3) The importance of pursuing your passion and living a purposeful life.
My hope for you is that in the midst of challenges, which you will inevitably face, that you learn from those experiences, and respond with resilience. My favorite saying has always been to “Shake it off, and take a step up.” Challenges exist to test us and to help us grow. They are an unfortunate, but necessary, part of life. They can be uncomfortable, and we can often feel pushed beyond our limits, but I’ve found, that we aren’t faced with more than we can handle. You are strong and with an aptitude to learn from the challenge, and resilience, you can use the challenge as an opportunity for growth.
It’s not necessarily your accomplishments that will make an impact and be your legacy, but how you’ve made people feel and your kindness along the way that will be remembered. At such a young age, I can already tell you have a gentle spirit. You are rarely upset. You are constantly smiling and your laugh is contagious. Seeing you and your sister play together and laugh at one another, brings so much joy to my heart.
We all have a purpose on this earth. Try many things, and find your passion and what brings you joy. Pursue your passion with relentless perseverance. Having meaning and purpose in your life will guide your decisions, shape your goals, and provide a sense of direction.
You and your sister are my greatest life’s accomplishments. I’m learning every day how to be a better mother, wife, and business leader. I’m confident that with resilience, a kind and gentle spirit, and by pursuing your passion, you will become an unstoppable force for goodness and change in this world.
Love,
Mom