http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=203280383144662
Watching this video reminded me of the words my father told me my senior year when I was trying to plan my future. My father was a professional airline pilot, he flew commercial planes, he flew small planes, at one time he and his best friend Ken Taylor built their own plane. My father loved flying. He lived in a place he loved, doing what he loved. My father, Roger Von Guinther, was 49 when he died as a passenger in a small plane. If he had known, would he had changed anything? His family and planes brought him many hours of joy.
That night, twenty-eight years ago, my father sat at the foot of my bed and asked about my future plane is still clear in my mind. What my father said that night. His advice: find what you love and do it the best you can. I have to admit it took me a bit to figure it out but I’m more happy with my life right now than ever before, art and writing fill my tank. I have a sister that teaches yoga. Our baby my travels across Texas pulling a stock trailer from show to show. Daddy said many time he just wanted us to be happy…I think his wish for our lives have come true.
Life gets busy but I do believe with work, perseverance and being ready when the opportunity arrives you can live the life of your dreams. What path did you choose: safety or bliss?
Do you guide your children to a career promising security and wealth or one that fills their passion?
Jolene Navarro 
I’ve always told my kids to follow their dreams and do what they love. As long as they’re happy, I’m happy. Dreams are the substance of the soul so it’s best that we nurture it.
I’m glad to see that you’re now happy with your life. It sure makes life worth living doesn’t it?
I think one of the best things a parent can do is live a life of passion- I learned a great deal from both of my parents from the way they lived. I hope my children learn the same lesson and maybe even earlier. Your kids are blessed to have your support.
Great post, Jolene! I always wonder why we choose to live miserably when we could live doing what we love? Why do so many of us choose what others tell us is right and not follow our hearts? I have always encouraged my children to do what they love. They may never be rich, but then who needs gobs of money when you are already happy?
I tell my kids to remain debt free so they don’t have to work for “stuff”. They can make choices based on what they want to do instead of getting a job to cover your debt. Being debt free equals freedom.
Jolene, this is great advice. I love what you said in your reply to Joni, too. Being debt free is freedom! We have been teaching that to our children (especially the teenager). You don’t have to be wealthy to be debt free, but being debt free can let you have a richer life.
Yes, I had to learn that lesson the hard way. I believe store cards came from hell. 😉
We know live without credit cards and sometimes we just have to wait to get something. Oh the problems of a first world country.
Thanks for a great post, Jolene, in so many ways. You got me remembering my own dad, also a pilot who died far too young. His small plane crashed in the wilds of northern Canada when I was 7. He was 29. I had seen him only a few times in the five years before he died and what I’ve missed the most is the knowing: how might I be different with his influence, what were his dreams? How great you have those memories. AND, I love the debt free advice. One thing I noticed when I first came back from my Peace Corps years was just how commercial everything suddenly seemed. I also noticed how big insurance had gotten. For a country that prides ourselves on our independence, we seemed to be insured up the gazoo. I felt sad in many ways when I came home.
There is something about flying that lives in the soul. Sorry you lost your dad so young.
Thank you for sharing, I also think it is so important to go outside our culture.
Lovelyy blog you have here