Dear Emma... Love Dad

My dear daughter Emma, I love that you are different and that is a very good thing.

As you prepare to begin high school, please know you are smart, not because you have answers; you are smart because you can solve problems – that is a very important gift. In high school you will eventually come to understand and embrace your differences.

There is no such thing as the perfect person. In fact, there is no such thing as an average person. These are only cultural models. People are unique and different for a reason. Your strengths will supplement someone’s weaknesses. Nature has made sure that our differences complement the differences of others. Our perspectives are different for a reason. Your broad perspective compliments my detailed perspective. Your creative inspiration compliments my functional inspiration.

People adapt and grow for a reason; it is nature. Most grow together because it is human nature to collaborate. In a time of crisis or need people react and come together, to do things the individual cannot – that is found throughout nature and history.

In time you will also come to appreciate the difference between nature and culture. Fear is natural, manipulating fear is cultural. Contrary to popular belief, competition is not natural, it is also cultural. Competition is a theory of culture and every culture has theories about life. Some are even based on nature, some are not.

History shows us that what people feel, believe, think and know is true – is constantly evolving. There is no reason this will not continue. Understanding and wisdom is a product of lifelong learning – if you never quit listening you will never quit learning. That is the definition of being open minded.

Perhaps the most important thing I can share is that ‘nature’ is a product of the universe; ‘culture’ is a product of people. Nature is far greater in size and power than culture. Nature will always win out over culture. Just ask the dinosaurs.

Love, Dad