Written by John Cave Osborne for Babble.com
One of the coolest things about creating digital content for a few different websites over the past couple of years has been the interest it's garnered from my 11-year-old stepdaughter. It seems my endeavors have piqued her curiosity more than just a little bit, or so I've been led to believe by the constant stream of well-meaning questions she asks me.
I never feel like I give her great answers. I mean, yeah, I give her answers that are technically correct, before explaining that she, too, can express herself in any number of different ways. That she, too, can learn how to create artistic content that delivers a message or expresses her feelings. But that's about all I can do, right? The rest is up to her.
Which is why it's been so rewarding to see her continue to grow into a thoughtful, creative soul, the latest, irrefutable evidence coming the other day when she created the following video for a school project, one that is much better than most if not all of the videos I've ever made.
There are several reasons why I like it so much. First, it's short and sweet, so that's always nice. But more than that, it's pure and simple while still being profound and deep. And that's hard to do.
But the main reason why I love it so much is because the message she's sending with it is the exact one I want her -- and all my other children -- to carry with them throughout their lives. I never want them to get mired down in the status quo, or caught up with material worldviews. I never want them to settle for a conventional route if a healthy but unconditional one seems more true to who they are.
In short, I want them to have the courage to be themselves -- whoever they want to be. And the only way to do that is to dream big, then have the knowledge -- the confidence -- that whatever it is they see when they close their eyes is well within their grasp. Because it is.
Anyway, with Alli's blessing, I share with you this wonderful, short, sweet and beautiful video she made with the help of the triplets and Luke. Hope you like it.