On fear and first step

Living is dangerous…no, not dangerous, it is unpredictable.

And this unpredictability is what we fear the most. Because, if we are honest, it is very reassuring to know where we are going and what comes next.

And I was scared too.

I was scared to travel by myself when I was young. I was scared to go to university. I was scared to move abroad. But that didn’t stop me, and not because I was better than anyone else. but probably because I was more curious about what might come next.

For me, the benefit was always bigger than the cost. I overlooked that fear and focused on the excitement..

But I also understand that, when I was a teenager, life was easier. We didn’t have phones. We weren’t always reachable. So parents had to give us something more powerful: a compass to navigate the world, and then trust our judgment. It was not an easy task, but it is not easier today.

So my role is not so different from what my parents faced back then.
While for you, you are starting your journey in a much more complicated environment, and I already see many kids who don’t even try, just to avoid failing.

But there is no real failure. This is just living.

So I urge you both: make your choices, make your mistakes. Try to remember your parents’ compass while you are creating your own.

I trust you. With love, Dad