Will never become outdated!

Spring  2009

Dear XXXXXXXXXX,

So, you are in Los Angeles.  Big town.  California hype.  Lots of people.  I know you are enjoying your trip, keeping your eyes and ears open.  Watching, seeing.  You are also in my prayers.  

California is a tough place.   One of my favorite comments when I lived there was that everybody wants to be a star.  It is also an expensive state to live in.  Taxes are very high.  The sunshine in southern Cal is for sure, priceless.  I lived farther south than where you are now and it is one of the most beautiful beach cities on earth. LaJolla. 

I hope you get to meet some people out there that you can learn some things from.  I think you are perceptive about life and that will serve you well in the future.  Ask some of those people you are serving what they would have done differently in their lives.  Listen very carefully for the excuses.  You will hear them.  Listen carefully.

You see, the vast majority of people spend their lives in search of the "perfectly legitimate excuse". They see that as an acceptable replacement for success.  They are negative.  Maybe at your age, you already know some “negative” people.  Negative people look for someone or something to blame. Their life can be summarized as the "quest for the perfectly legitimate excuse". They never really grasp personal responsibility. The closest they come to feeling good is the placebo effect they get from hanging around like-minded people and participating in group gossip and complaining sessions.  Some people, and you probably know a couple already, have turned to using pot as part of their excuse in life.  You see, and this is very important to understand, to get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done.

Understanding this short quote can be the difference between winning or losing; between greatness or mediocrity. It captures the essence of discipline and discipline in life is what will make your life great.  Your Dad has a tremendous amount of discipline.  You know that and it has contributed to a large part of his great success.  If I can wish one thing for you to take away from this trip it is the importance of keeping your balance, keeping your focus and keeping your discipline to pursue your goals.  Your goals, not your mothers goals for you, not your fathers' goals for you. Your goals.  Your passions.    To do that, you will have to step out of your comfort zone.  When you do that, you experience great personal growth.

Always dream and believe that the best is yet to come.  I still do.

With best wishes, 

Dean Parisian