We are in a world marked by the pressure to buy things to show the people in our lives that we love them. But if we use the wisdom of all of the ages, we learn that the greatest give anyone can give is relationship – to be personally interested in and to participate in the life of another. To me, that makes it clear on how to celebrate what is super about dads.
I have always been an advocate to do something from the heart instead of buying something as a gift. What makes life better is having greater personal connections and fewer things that end up in our landfills. Thinking this way, here are some ideas on how to rethink how to celebrate dads:
For those with dads who are still will us:
- Make the call or go visit. Nothing shows care more than changing our schedules to make room, time and space for another. On the call, eliminate all other distractions and focus on the conversation. They know when you are trying to multitask…
- Share a story or favorite memory of how your dad helped you succeed, navigate something difficult, learn a skill or help you grow into who you have become. They love to hear how they made a difference for you.
- Take a picture of your dad today. Place it where you regularly see it. Spend a moment when you see it just remembering who this person has been for you. Let it inspire you to connect more frequently and more personally.
For those with dads who have left us:
- Remember his favorite music, art, food, book, hobby and spend some time with it. Remember what it meant to him and enjoy his memory through some of what he felt was important or enjoyed.
- Write a brief letter to your dad, sharing some of the things you would talk to him about if he were here today. You’ll tap into his wisdom and reconnect to some of what you remember most of him.
- Share a story about your dad with someone who didn’t know him. Keep his memory alive. Though gone from each day, he has shared his wisdom and best with you. You carry this on in the way you live your life.
Dads – we aren’t perfect but we sure do try. Down deep we are madly in love with our kids and brave the world each day trying to create the means for our kids to find their way. No real roadmap, no real guidebook. Just trying to watch and make decisions on the fly. Just trying to guide and teach our kids so they learn how to navigage life to be successful and happy.
Fight the urge to buy a tie or just pass over the day. Instead, make it personal, special – build or live the memory. The holiday may have been created by some greeting card marketing department, but its purpose can make us all aware that though dads are only people, we can see that there were times when they were actually more super than just human.
Written by Jay Forte
Jay Forte, the president and founder of The Greatness Zone LLC, is an author, motivational speaker and certified life and workplace coach. He and his organization help others discover and connect their unique abilities to opportunities in today’s world to live and work with purpose, passion and power – to know themselves, find their fit and transform their world. More information, including his books, The Greatness Zone and Fire Up! Your Employees, is at www.TheGreatnessZone.com, www.Ready4Life.me and www.FireUpYourEmployees.com.
