Rule #93: Snowflakes Melt – Don’t Be a Snowflake
Rarely do things go exactly my way. Kids get sick, things break, business deals fall through—life is a grind. But even in the grind, I’m grateful. I wake every morning with food, shelter, love, and opportunity. That first level of Maslow’s pyramid? Covered, thanks to parents who gave me both security and faith that life is a gift, not a guarantee.
That same confidence lives in my kids. They don’t frame it spiritually yet, but they know one truth: it will always work out. Not because life is easy, but because failure is part of the path. When Eevee flew to Hawaii for her doctorate with no housing lined up, I was anxious. She wasn’t. She crashed in hostels, YMCAs, wherever until she landed a place. She didn’t melt—she thrived.
Bobbi and I didn’t raise snowflakes. We raised kids who take risks, fail, and keep moving. Abby summed it up perfectly when she told her classmates upset about grades: “Keep moving.” That’s the rule. You don’t fail by falling—you fail by stopping. My knees (one of them metal) can tell you plenty about stumbles, but I’ve always gotten back up.
Life owes us nothing. We’re not entitled to a smooth road, only the chance to walk it. Friends of mine have faced illnesses that would flatten anyone—yet they fight with faith, knowing they’re not in control but trusting it will work out. That strength isn’t fragile. It doesn’t melt.
The world today worries me. Too many people demand guarantees—healthcare, housing, education, security—when in truth, uncertainty is what drives us. Fear and need are what light the fire under us to get up and face the day. Without the struggle, there’s no growth.
Your car breaks down. You lose the job. Your spouse leaves. You get sick. Shit happens. Don’t melt. Don’t whine. Move forward.
You’re not a snowflake—you’re blessed by God with another day to fight. So fight.
Keep moving.
Love, Dad