Erik Thomson is a Scottish-born, New Zealand-raised Australian actor. He is known for his roles in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, All Saints and Packed to the Rafters. He won an Australian Film Institute Award for his performance in the feature film Somersault.

Dear Erik,

Could you please stop watching one-day cricket for a minute and read this letter, it’s very important. Okay, now a lot of the things I tell you won’t really sink in because you are a teenager and therefore developmentally predisposed to ignore adults’ advice. The world is your oyster at your age. You feel immortal and you think you know best how to live your life. I understand that, I’ve been thirteen myself, just try and absorb that for a start.

There are a few things, however, that would be very helpful for you to at least consider. They may save you some pain, although that said, pain is an elemental part of learning and unavoidable if you’re living your life correctly. I say that because no matter how much advice I give you, you WILL make mistakes, you WILL experience grief, joy, sadness, happiness, loneliness, frustration, in fact every human emotion IF you are truly living. So be brave enough to put yourself out there and get amongst it, take the good with the bad. It’s a cliché but ‘life is not a dress rehearsal’, so go and live it!

On that point, it’s your life, not your parents’ or siblings’ or friends’, yours! They, of course, are an incredibly important part of your life but should not define it. So listen to your heart. When you do things that give you joy, peace and satisfaction, keep doing them. The people who really love you will respect your choices, as long as they don’t harm others or yourself, and should acknowledge your right to your own destiny. If they don’t and try to block your path, gently and politely request that they move aside and support you in your passion. They may resist, but ultimately, if they can see that you are clear and committed to the path you are on, they should get behind you.

Now, I do not intend this advice to sound like you should become self-centred or self-obsessed. On the contrary, that would be a tragedy.

To counter the possibility of this and to give true depth and meaning to your life, you must develop an acute sense of compassion and service to others. Whilst pursuing your own goals you must take every opportunity to consider the welfare of others and do whatever is in your power to help and support them. You must also remain humble by giving back to society whenever the opportunity arises. It fills you with such a sense of purpose and belonging that it will make all other achievements all the more rich as they will have context. (You may not understand the concept of ‘context’ yet, but trust me it’s important!)

If you see someone who needs help, ask if you can help. They may refuse but give them the option. Try not to live your life asking only ‘What’s in it for me?’ There is so much more than you.

Finally, have FUN! Try not to lose the clown within. Laugh. Keep things light. This won’t always be possible but I believe you have a choice each day as to whether you are happy or not. Choose happy.

OK, you can go back to cricket now.

Lots of love to you,

Erik