What stories will you tell them about our generation? Will we be heroes or villains?

Sent on by
Nathaniel Stinnett
Send Your Own Message

Dear Abigail and Olivia,

Maybe one day, you’ll both be lucky enough to have children, and you’ll understand the love, and joy, and pride of parenting.

Maybe you’ll also know what it’s like to be a hero in your children’s eyes. Right now, you think your dad can do anything – fix any problem – and that makes me want to do big, heroic things for you every day. It makes me a better person, and I hope you get to feel that way too.

But will you always think of me as a hero? My generation is doing so many awful things – poisoning your air and water, ignoring climate change, and leaving you to grow up in a dangerous, unpredictable world. Will you end up thinking of us as heroes or villains?

I’m ashamed to say that we…and I…might fail you. I don’t want to fail you – it makes me sick even thinking about it – but it’s hard to do big things, especially when each day presents a million little problems. It’s easier to concentrate on the stuff we know we can control. But that’s not good enough, is it?

How will you explain all of this to your children? What stories will you tell them about our generation? Will we be heroes or villains?

I promise you this: years from now, when you tell your children about their grandfather, you’ll be able to say that he fought every day for them to have a safer, cleaner, healthier world. I may not win every day…but I’ll try. I’ll try every day, I promise. And when I think about it, that’s obviously the best gift that I could ever give the two of you…because it’s all I’d ever want for my children.

I will love you always.

Dad

Share on:
 
Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

 

I won’t leave my lights on.

 

Querida Emanoely,

Gostaria que você se lembrasse das lições simples que mamãe e papai te ensinou, como cuidar das plantas e dos espaços coletivos.

 

Hola Cariño,

Life is not easier being a believer but I would not have picked another path. Thanks to my Faith I found my passion to work to stop climate change for your future. Now go play outside and breathe clean air. Dios te bendiga.

 

Loved One,

That we all have a role to play no matter how small, we all can make a difference.

 

Dear Corey,

I promise to do all within my power to create a world that’s safe for you and your generation.

 

For a child I am yet to know,

We are fighting for a shared cause, inspired by our strong and unwavering dedication to preserve the beauty and wonder of our natural world for our children, our grandchildren and their children, and for countless generations to come.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to educate myself and others about how we can protect and nourish our 1 PLANET

 

Dear Grandchild,

I now feel less overwhelmed and powerless, and I am determined to fight for our planet and your future.

 

To my sons,

I’m voting with climate change as a top priority. I’ve tried to teach you boys that we need to clean up after ourselves and take care of the earth. I promise to continue doing these actions and more, for your sake.

 

Dear Leo,

Last week I took you to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline.

 

Dear son,

Everyone should be grow at least 100 trees in his lifetime.

 

Dear Soren,

In this world that is changing before our eyes, I believe that is our task: standing unflinchingly on the side of love, connecting with others, and forging ahead together.

View All Messages

Send Your Own Message