Let(ter) Ricky Martin entertain you with his words of wisdom…
With Father’s Day this upcoming Sunday (June 21), Time magazine has revealed its annual Letters From Dad series, with the 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter participating in the project.
The magazine typically asks several influential dads to write open letters to their children — and this year, Martin was among them.
In his heartfelt letter, former member of the all-boy band Menudo starts off by telling his twins Matteo and Valentino, now six, that being a father was something he always dreamed of. He also credits them with positively changing his life.
“Above all, my beautiful sons, your love gave me the strength to live an honest life,” writes Martin, who came out as a gay man in 2010, after years of scrutiny about his sexuality. “A life of courage and transparency, which fills me with great pride and peace. What an amazing gift you have given me, and I’m forever thankful to you.
Before signing off, Martin adds, “If there is anything I want you to live with, aside from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and adored by me and our family and friends, it is that you can be YOURSELF. Don’t ever let anyone or anything make you feel like you can’t be your true self.”
But Martin isn’t the only Latino dad participating this year.
In an equally sweet letter, Colombian superstar Juanes goes through the emotions he felt when each of his children came into this world and what they have taught him.
“I would feel a mixture of joy and nerves come over me that I could not describe with words alone,” writes Juanes to Luna, Paloma and Dante, his three children with TV personality Karen Martinez. “And then, in the blink of an eye, as when a candle is lit in the darkness, you would appear, illuminating the whole place.”
Later in the piece, he writes, “At first, I imagined that my mission as a father would be to teach you everything I knew about life: the physical, the intellectual, the spiritual. But as the days passed, I realized that I would be learning from you. Yes, you read that right—I would also be your student. The purity of your souls, your innocence, reminded me that I, too, one day came to this world like you, innocent and with a pure soul. I felt myself reconnecting with my father and mother, completing this mysterious and magical circle of existence.
Juanes’ letter is also available in Spanish. As the Colombian rock star’s short bio points out, he is about to head on his Loco de Amor tour, for which he is currently rehearsing.
Martin is getting ready for Univision’s La Banda, a new reality singing competition series airing in September in search of the next big Latin boy band. Martin will serve as a judge, along with Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini, and he is also credited as a producer.
Other musical figures invited by Time to pen letters for their kids this year include Pete Wentz and Russell Simmons.
Click here to read the letters in full.
