Dear Brett,

11/7/12

Dear Brett,

I did not sleep well last night after your news that Marines denied you to join them. You did nothing wrong. They came to a “moment-of-truth” and asked for a complete confession of past transgressions. You were honest and forthright, the highest quality of character and of which this world is short on. You shared that you had taken a friend's prescription pain-killer a couple of years ago for a headache when visiting because he had no over-the-counter pain reliever. Unfortunately, policy trumped common-sense and wisdom and the Marines denied you the ability to serve.

Unfortunately, the Marines taught you a bad lesson. Don’t tell the truth, because you will be punished. They put a kink in trust not only in being a Marine but in serving this country.

I wish I could have taken this “bullet” for you. I wish that I could have spared you the pain. I have felt your pain and know how gut wrenching it is. I remember being told by a woman I loved that she no longer loved me. It turned my world upside down. I felt all my hopes and dreams were broken into a million pieces. I felt unworthy. I felt embarrassed. I felt shame.

Fortunately, there were people who believed in me, who loved me, who assured me that a new day would come. It took time. It took patience. It took work. The wound healed. I believed I was good enough to love and be loved. You are an outcome of that healing.

I know you. I know your heart. I know when you believe, you make things happen. I saw that back when you were in the grade school when you decided you wanted to be the lead in the 5th grade musical. You persevered and succeeded. I saw it on the soccer field when you wanted to be the starting goal keeper. You persevered and not only got the starting position but became captain of the team. I saw it when you wanted to go to a division I college to play soccer and realized it did not meet your expectations and chose a different course. You persevered and graduated from college.

As low as you are, you have a history of overcoming adversity. Your expectations have been altered by someone else, but it does not mean you cannot pursue your goal.

I believe in you. You are one of my role-models. You are an inspiration to me and others. You are loved and you have a gift to share to make this world a better place. Do not let someone deter you from making that difference.

I love you.

Now go Carrpe Diem!

Dad