It was school captain Election Day.
My 11 year old daughter Bella was a candidate.
She wanted the position and had worked hard on her application and spent hours preparing and practicing her speech.
On Election Day, driving to school we checked with Bella’s younger siblings who they would be voting for. It was merely a confirmation of the obvious. Family First!
Sophia had said “I’m voting for Bella”.
What about you Charlie?
Charlie is 7 years old and a good communicator.
“I’ll be voting for Lucy” said Charlie.
In shock the rest of the family spent the rest of the car trip influencing Charlie to vote for his sister Bella.
Charlie continued “you can’t tell me what to do, I’m my own person. I will listen to the speeches and then vote for the best one!”
On the way home my wife and I smiled and gritted our teeth at the same time.
Inside we knew Charlie had a point and in many ways he was right!
In life we often conform to the expectations of others. We lose our true self. We do what others tell us and sometimes stop thinking for ourselves.
“One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself” Shannon L Alder
Charlie reminded me of an important life lesson.
Be yourself - There is no other you than YOU!
and then I got out of the car and said “now listen hear young man….😂
