Letter

I wrote this letter to a few good friends and decided to make it public. I just feel that it's very necessary to share with everyone and let them know how much I appreciate them. Read it or not, I feel good knowing it's out there. I don't often remark on how much I enjoy being around people and compliments are far and between from my mouth and hardly ever sound sincere. I just want you to know, whoever it is that's reading this, I care.

Hello!

  I was writing this to a friend of mine who I haven't spoken to in a few years. While I was writing it I realized that this email applied to so many other people in my life and I wanted to share it all with you. As I state later in this email, I am truly thankful for everything you have ever done for me, whether big or small. I know that during certain points in my life I depended on you to make me strong, keep me going or just be there to hold me. I thank you for your continuing belief in me and I hope I will be able to rise to the task before me. I guess I've been thinking about the people in my life that helped essentially make me the person I am today. Your friendship made me such a better person and I will always be in your debt for it. The reason why I've been going through these thoughts is that I'm having a baby! Anytime in the next couple of days I will be looking into the eyes of my son. And I know that as I stare into his eyes I will be thinking two things.

1. I have a beautiful boy that I will love more than anything else in the world. 
2. Have i learned enough about this world to teach my son to grow up and be strong, smart, and happy?

   I guess I've been thinking a lot of past and current friendships and with the future coming forward so quickly, I fear losing a piece of my identity. I feel as though I'm about to put my own self aside as I make room for this beautiful child and if I do, I just don't want my friendships to go with it. I make this sound so morbid! I really am excited about all of this and I cannot express the proper words to explain just how overjoyed I am. I want to make sure in the years to come that I stay connected in some way with the people that helped me get here. Above everything else that I have learned from books, teachers and my parents, I truly believe that it's people like you that have come into my life and heart that have made me the man that I am today. I want to thank you for providing me with something that is beyond a classroom. You have shared a part of yourself for me to take and cherish inside of my heart that I will never forget. I hope that I can teach my son the strength of friendship and impart upon him what it means to have people in your life that will forever change you. Thank you for being there when I needed you. 

Please let me know how your life is going and what is happening with you. I need the updates!!

Take care,
Patrick