The Second Most Important Advice

I have two boys. One of the most fun things about having kids is that you get to dispense important life advice. Here are some of my pearls of wisdom.

• “Never play with bear cubs in the wild.”
• “If you’re speeding, make sure there is at least one car going faster than you.”
• “Don’t ever put fruit on a pizza. That is a sin.”
• “When you go to college, pick a major and see it through. You know, like your mother did. Your father is still picking a major.”
• “Never befriend anyone who prefers Hunts ketchup. They’re probably a psychopath.”
• “You get more guacamole at Chipotle if you ask for it on the side.”
• “Always be kind. It will never come back to haunt you.”
• “If someone says ‘trust me’, it’s because there is a reason that they shouldn’t be trusted.”

As you can see, I have gained a lot of wisdom that I am more than willing to pass along to the next generation. That’s not really true. I’m winging it like our parents did before us and their parents did before them. That reminds me of another piece of advice.

• “Always act like you know what you’re doing.”

All of that aside, there are two rock solid pieces of advice that I will give to my kids that I know they can count on.

1. “If you anchor your life in Christian principles, the storms won’t shake you.”
2. “A good attitude is essential in life.”

They’re good with number one. Number two I have to keep reinforcing. A good attitude changes how problems are approached. It increases your likelihood of solving those problems. It increases your likelihood of being successful in general. People who say, “Oh no! We’ll never make it” usually don’t make it. Attitude is fifty percent of life. Have to clean the bathroom? Do it with a good attitude. Have to do a job you hate? Do it with a good attitude. Have to eat your veggies? Do it with a good attitude. Found your passion in life? Pursue it relentlessly, with a good attitude. I recently went to see Sammy Hagar in concert. That guy has a great attitude. He’s seventy years old and still doing what he loves. You never hear a negative thing come out of his mouth. (Unless it’s about the Van Halen’s, who he referred to as “the devil and his brother”) His career has had ups and downs, but he’s still here. Attitude is fifty percent of life.

One last piece of advice that I almost forgot.

“Always eat one less piece of pizza than you actually want to.”