Laura Dern Scared Me To Death

In 2017, Laura Dern, the actress from Jurassic Park, wrote a touching letter of advice to her teenage daughter. (Or perhaps a message to all our daughters)

The whole letter is a great piece that I can mentally relate to, but this part especially spoke to my heart:

There’s a huge force affecting your generation—it’s called social media, and it’s mothering you as much as I am. This other mother is very influential, and she’s telling you that your value is determined by how many people follow you. She is deciding what beauty looks like and which extravagances add up to a fun life.

What social media is giving young girls right now are the two stories that keep us trapped—the black and the white. At one extreme, everything’s perfect and light, and everyone’s surrounded by friends. The other end of the spectrum seems to glamorize the darkest depression and solitude. But I want you to know that most of your life will happen in the gray spaces between bliss and heartbreak, between having everything lock into place and having it all fall apart. That’s where the grace is.

My mouth is dry.

I have a young boy, and this “other mother” terrifies me.

I think about her every single day.

Max, if you’re reading this, long after I am gone, no longer here to guide you, I hope you'll still remember my words.

"Find your authentic voice."

In a world filled with noise, fake online perfection, societal pressure, horrors of war and just about every level of stress imaginable, there are few things more precious than finding your authentic voice.

Never forget that.

Semper Fi,

Your Biggest Fan

Your Father

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