For my kids

Full life. Full time mistake maker. No complaints.

Work day and night to improve yourself. Don't hurt anyone on purpose. Hopefully, if you don't do too many things that will get you killed, you may get lucky enough to figure life out. There is always time to dig out of  your hole...or there isn't.

We all make mistakes. Learn from them, better yet, figure out what they are. Most people don't see what the mistakes or opportunities are.  Don't put yourself in BAD situations. Be around good people who do good things, and amazing things can happen.

It is not a magic formula.

Try to fix your problems. Try to help others. Listen.

You can screw up an awful lot in life and still be alive.

Drama really isn't necessary, but people do what people do.  I suggest you learn to like watching everyone's quirks and enjoy the characters of your life.

Think for yourself. Cattle get slaughtered. Do what you love. If that doesn't work, do it differently.  Improve. Risk is rewarded- get up if you fall.

You can try and fail almost everything in the world, except cliff diving. ( thank you Norm MacDonald). Most business efforts are NOT cliff diving. Being broke is not the end of the world. It is amazing how bad things can get, and you still wake up the next day. Smile at those new days. That is opportunity number 1, happening over and over again.


and before you are gone, make sure your kids know what you believe in.



Mark Burkenbine