Letter To My Younger Self

Dear 10-year-old Sunny,

I know a lot of things are different and you can’t really seem to make much sense of how quickly your life can change but the reality is as much as you can plan for life.. it will give you much more than you could have ever hoped for. You’re going to see things that most kids your age will never have to, but rest assure all these moments both good and bad will shape you into the man you are today.

At first things won’t make sense. Langley is everything that Surrey is not. The family you once knew will disappear but the love you share with your mom and step dad will be the strongest connection life will gift you. You traded in a big bedroom in a nice house to a farm and little beat up rancher. Don’t be so hard to judge as this little home will become the most essential part of your life. Years after you move away and start your own adventures, this will be the one and only place on Earth you can always call home.

Changing schools will be a real culture shock. You are no longer required to wear a uniform like your old private school required. This will be the first time you will start to figure out your individuality and this new place …. Murrayville, it’s like something out of a movie. Everything is so vibrant both the community and the families that call this place home. The friendships you make here will define your teenage years and even now a decade later you can still recall some of the best nights of your life! and Soccer.. well let’s just say I would stick with it. Everything you learn both on the pitch and off will make you who you are. The determination, persistence and hunger to win will never waver. This is the one place that no matter what obstacles life is throwing at you .. you can always escape to.

At first it will just be a fun hobby. But then your parents tell you you’re getting a chance to train and play more. A summer camp invite turns into an invite to a Soccer School in Burnaby. Please pay close attention to this chapter. The coach Roman Tulis is this big strong man and at first you will be very intimidated. Don’t worry, he’s the most kindest and sincere man in the whole world and will become a strong figure in your life when you need it most.

He gives you the first opportunity to be a Captain on a team. You will be lucky to travel to Holland and Spain to play with your team and while your parents can’t come they continue to support all your dreams even if it is from afar. It’s on these trips far away and calling home sick that Roman will be there for you. You realize this man cares more about you the person than you the soccer player. Capture these moments because a time will come when Roman will leave this world far too short. Gone but never forgotten, every time you drive past the old facility you can’t help but be drawn into everything that once was.

Slow Down Sunny...

Slow down .. this is something your mother will say constantly. At first it will drive you absolutely nuts! She has a funny way of being strict but also the cool fun mom. Her policy is quite simple .. no B.S. as blunt as that is. She will never coddle you or baby you about feeling sorry for yourself. After all she’s been through so much already, a new fresh start means we both have an opportunity to become more than life gave us to start with. Sometimes you two will argue and fight. You’ll give her many sleepless nights trying to figure out life and the pitfalls that come along with it.

Take it easy, this woman brought you into the world but she will also give you the world. Advice from her is worth its weight in gold. You will both laugh and cry only to make you both tougher. Reminisce on where you started to where you are now. It’s a long road .. one that you will often be referred to as scenic route but it’s the most beautiful path so be sure to be attentive. Each time you fail, you will get-up and move forward. This is a repetitive cycle that will catapult you to even greater heights.

Much like all this new responsibility you will also quickly get acclimated to living on a farm. At first you won’t want to accept all these changes. Your step-dad and you will not always see eye to eye. Try and take it easy on this man, he will become the cornerstone of not just your family but the single greatest role model every kid should hope to have to look-up to. Rest assure a day will come when the two of you have forged the best father-son relationship you could have asked for. It gets better, he also brings with him a distance family in Ireland. At first you only hear stories of your Uncle Joe & Aunt Norma and their 4 boys. This will without a doubt be the greatest blessing you could ask for along with your 3 new step-sisters.

For all the family you will left behind, you will replace with the most amazing human beings walking this earth. Their will be many visits either the boys coming to Canada or you traveling to Ireland. Breathe every single one of these moments in. These will be the highlights of some incredible teenage years.. You will get older and a new chapter will begin.

At 18 things are starting to change. You move out on your own and experience the independence you so desperately craved. At first it will seem so fun and exciting …After all the rush of no rules is something most teenagers wish for. A few apartments, condo and a Townhouse later you will become domesticated. Learning to cook, clean while work will take its toll. Late nights out with your friends turn into early nights at home preparing for your real estate exam.

Your mind no longer seems to think the same way. You want more.. more than just a mediocre lifestyle. That’s okay, not everyone will share the same drive and hunger you hold. It will be very hard at first and many people will not understand. Try not to stress too much.. you will pass and begin a life into a career that will embody everything you will become. Every year will seem harder and harder. At times you will want to quit and try something much easier.

But that’s not you. Funny thing about your 20’s is you begin to really understand who “YOU” are as a person. Studying your strengths and weaknesses becomes much of a game. You develop an appetite for knowledge, something the teenage you would never slow down enough to see the real value in. It’s during these years that the person you always wanted to be really starts to take shape.

Along this journey countless failures will occur .. It’s okay! These failures you will overcome, learn and adjust. With these corrections what once seemed improbable becomes reality. You win your first awards and attend Gala’s with your family. Seeing the proud parent look on your parents face will forever be engraved in your heart. If life ended that day I would have felt accomplished. The two people that stuck by me in the best and worst moments, who left everything behind to start new and build a successful business in their own right.. WE deserved this. We sacrificed so much early on, but now I sit here at 29 telling you it was all worth it.

One day your friend will introduce you to someone very special. Don’t take this chance encounter for granted. This girl will be beautiful, smart and funny! even more funny than you and as hard as that seems to believe. The two of you will lean on each other, both when times are good but most importantly when life gets hard. This is a way of showing you your true colours.

Smile .. all the years you committed to your career and sacrificing nights out meeting someone new will be worth it. When the time is right the right person will find you and believe me when I say she will be well worth the wait.

You still have very far to go, but to get to this point truly is a blessing. Don’t be afraid to step from your comfort zone, see new places and do new things. All these experiences will add value to your core beliefs. Travelling around the world will become an addiction, so work hard so you can also play hard.

You will accomplish what you set out to do .. then adjust and aim higher. So breathe and slow down.. so much is about to unfold but it will be the best ride you could ask for, it may not seem like it now but one day it will all make sense.