18

I started this blog when your brother turned 18. I did it to spout my opinions and views on the off chance that you both read them and maybe took something from them.

Now you are turning 18. It feels so strange to think about that for me because in my head you're still about 6 years old, really small, smiley and very sweet in your Hello Kitty stuff. Its a difficult adjustment to think of you as a woman but thats how life works.

One thing I should say to you is that I can't really give you any advice because every decision you make seems to be far more sensible than I could ever have thought. So I guess one thing I can say to you is to always have confidence in your decisions, even when you're not sure what to do. Evaluate things, wight things up, and if you're not sure just pick a decision and go with it as you'll likely make the right one and make the best of it anyways.

So my first piece of advice is to have confidence in yourself.

Next I want to say something that you should already know and that is that you have talents and gifts in many areas. We take a lot of them for granted and we shouldn't, but you are a very kind friend, very thoughtful in how you approach things, how you deal with things and in with your sense of fairness and justice. I really admire that trait in you. Its really lovely.

Obviously you are clever, but that also takes it for granted and brushes over things. Don't underestimate your brains. You saw your engagement and passion during your Uni application when you could articulate valid points around a lot of current topics of interest to Gen Z. Really think about how you can use it because it would be an amazing benefit. When you were going through that process I could see you as an amazing lecturer, teacher, counsellor.

Thats my next piece of advice, use your brains to do something great.

Your art, it always blows me away. Whether you pursue this as a career (which you could) or just continue for enjoyment, make sure you do continue it because its a real gift. Keep painting people and don't be embarrassed to show people no matter what you think about it. Let other people enjoy it as they will do. They will not see any imperfections you see, they will just see something brilliant.

Thats my next piece of advice, your creativity is a huge gift. Enjoy it and share it.

Next piece of dad advice. Don't get upset or hurt by set backs, or incidents where you think you make apparent mistakes. Mistakes, minor embarrassments, missteps, these things are the bread and butter of a life lived, and more risks you take the more mistakes you'll make and sometimes risks are the right thing to do. So accept that you'll experience times when you feel embarrassed, learn a way of laughing it off, don't be annoyed with yourself, its never that big a deal.

So that advice is, don't be self conscious of your mistakes, theres no point.

The other is that life is full of harsh disappointments. School has its challenges in one way, but when it comes to applying for jobs its all unfairness and rejections. Then when even if you get a job you can get sacked for no fault of your own, you may love your job and what you do and then the next day its gone. Life is like that. Its no big deal though and the reason for that if because you are loved by everyone around you, and you will always have something to offer whatever next opportunity comes along.

Thats my final piece of advice for today, don't be setback by lifes setbacks.

And remember, there are lots of things to think about, like, will there ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark? I'm not sure there will be. And my latest, how will we cope with people dying in self driving cars when the cars no longer crash so they arrive at their destination with dead passengers? I'm sure we'll work it out, maybe the car detects the death and drives to the nearest A&E?

All my love.