Last night was a milestone for our family.  Our oldest son graduated from Grade 8.  It was a beautiful evening of group pictures and awards, friends and celebrations, dancing and swimming.  I know he’ll never forget it.

It made me think of something writer Glennon Doyle Melton recently said when talking about her son.  She said, “When Chase was eight, a woman approached us at the grocery store and said, ‘What a handsome boy! What do you plan to be when you grow up, young man?’ Chase looked at her and said, ‘I plan to be kind and brave, ma’am.'”

So beautiful on so many levels.  First of all, you can be kind and brave today without training.  Second, you can be kind and brave no matter what you are doing in life.  And finally, being kind and brave is what makes change.

When you are kind people will always remember how you made them feel.  This builds bridges and networks.  Friendships and partnerships.  Companies and families.

And when you are brave, you can become what you were meant to be.  Use your gift.  Change the world.

As my oldest enters the next chapter in his life journey, I hope he always remembers that being kind and brave are some of the best skills he can ever have on his resume.