I’m Justin M. Lewis—Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and someone who believes the greatest gift we can give the next generation isn’t a set of rules, but a sense of freedom rooted in courage and self-belief.
Today’s article is part of a new Monday tradition—where I share personal letters I’ve written to my children. These letters are about the things that matter most: character, conviction, and how to live a meaningful life in a complicated world.
This first letter is about the kind of freedom that can’t be granted by a government or taken away by circumstance—the kind that lives in your heart and your mind.
Here’s this week’s letter. It’s called “You Are Free.”
My Dearest Thomas, James, and Margot,
I want you to know something that took me years to fully understand: you are free. Truly free. Not just in the way we think about living in a democracy, but in a way far more personal and profound. You are free to choose your own path, to decide who you love, to build a life that feels like your own. You are free to let go of expectations, free from the weight of obligations that don’t serve you, free to chase the things that set your soul on fire.
There will be times when the world will try to convince you otherwise. It will hand you a script, written by others, that tells you who you are supposed to be, what you should do, and how you should live. Some people will tell you to play it safe, to follow the well-worn road, to live according to their idea of success. I am telling you now: you do not have to accept that script.
The greatest gift you will ever have is the ability to choose. You get to choose what you do with your days, where you go, who you surround yourself with. You get to choose what kind of person you become. And the sooner you realize that this life is yours to shape, the sooner you will find true happiness.
There will be moments in life when you feel the exhilaration of freedom wash over you. The first time you step away from something that no longer fits—whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a place that has grown too small for you. The first time you say no to something because it isn’t right for you, even if the world expects you to say yes. The first time you take a leap into the unknown, trusting yourself enough to know that you’ll find your way.
And then there is the deepest kind of freedom: the freedom that lives in your heart and mind. A free mind is one that isn’t weighed down by fear. It’s a mind that questions, that wonders, that isn’t afraid to challenge what doesn’t make sense. A free heart is one that loves without hesitation, without bitterness, without being held back by past hurts or regrets.
I want you to protect that freedom. Never let anyone take it from you. Never let yourself be trapped in a life that doesn’t feel like your own. Never let fear make your choices for you. The people who truly love you will want you to live your life boldly, not in a way that pleases them but in a way that fulfills you.
But remember this: freedom is not about running away. It’s about running toward something greater. It’s about having the courage to build a life that matters, to love deeply, to commit to the things that are worthy of you. Because when you are free in your heart and your mind, you will know that every choice you make is yours, and that is the most powerful feeling in the world.
So go. Live boldly. Love without hesitation. Walk away from anything that dims your light. Chase the things that set your soul on fire. And above all else, never, ever forget: you are free.
With all my love,
Dad
These letters are deeply personal, but I share them here because I believe the truths we pass down to those we love most often hold something universal—something worth hearing, no matter where you are in life.
If this letter meant something to you, I hope you’ll pass it on. Share it with someone who’s searching, questioning, or standing at a crossroads. Remind them: they are free.
I’ll be back next Monday with another letter—and later this week with more of the usual: bold ideas, honest conversation, and a commitment to building something better.
Until then—stay principled, stay engaged, and never forget: this life is yours to shape.
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