A couple of days ago, I was in the Apple Store at Columbia Mall, when this middle aged man brought his young daughter to the store and asked her what special day was coming up. The girl of about 8 years old looked blank. He kept on pressing her for the significance of the special day, but she had no clue. Exasperated, he finally said , "It's father's day! That's why we're going out to dinner on Sunday and if you are thinking about what to get me, I'd really really like this new iPad." The young girl laughed and so did he. As I watched their interaction, I knew that it was clearly an indirect message to his wife to get him an iPad for father's day.
Although it’s father’s day, here in the US, the season isn’t celebrated as much as Mother’s Day is. There is good reason for this difference. It’s because too many people grow up without their fathers in their lives and even many times when fathers are present, it’s a very negative experience for the family. This is unfortunate because it shouldn’t be so, but that’s the reality of the fallen world we live in, a world which appears to keep losing its moral compass daily. To the fathers that hang in there by being the good providers and protectors they are designed to be, thank you! I know it's not easy and I really appreciate and applaud you.
I don’t have a good relationship with my father, but growing up with him in the house, although I didn’t realize it at the time, helped me realize that hard work and being enterprising is a precursor to success. My dad is and isn’t a lot of things I’d like him to be, but he definitely wasn’t and still isn’t lazy, even though he is in his 70s. Seeing him being so hard working has had a profound effect on my life and laziness isn’t an option for me either.
Also, even though I may not appreciate the way he does things, another attribute I have come to appreciate about him is that he is a committed man who works doggedly, and doesn’t abandon anything including his family or projects. Comparing him to so many men I encounter these days, he is definitely better than I used to think.
Well, that’s enough about my father, some people who are fortunate to have their fathers in their lives shared the best advice their fathers ever gave them. I hope people without their fathers in their lives benefit from this advice. They are as follows:
Quit smoking.
Keep your elbows off the table.
Never let your car’s gas tank run below the quarter mark.
Look people in the eye when you talk to them.
You don’t need hundreds of friends, you only need 2 or 3 really good ones.
Persevere and never give up.
Experiment. Sometimes in life you have to take chances and risks, because if you never try things, then you never know what the outcome could have been.
If you’re going to do something, take your time, be patient and do it right.
Perseverance and hard work are required to achieve.
If you work hard enough for something in America, you’ll get it.
Study like you’ll live forever and live like you’ll die tomorrow.
Have street smarts, and read between the lines in every situation.
Be nice to everybody.
Pretend like you don’t know much and no one will ask you to do anything.
Be an admirable person
Do a lot and appreciate all you accomplish.
Happy Father's Day!
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