It seems to me that fathers have it hardwired into their brain to impart the cumulative wisdom of their years into bite-sized nuggets of information for their offspring. As a former student journalist it is astounding to me how concisely dads can put huge metaphysical queries into one or two sentences or a witty phrase.
On the eve of my departure to Kenya, almost four years ago, my dad and I were talking, probably about the Blue Jays or something, when he suddenly gave me some of that fatherly advice. He told me that when I faced adversity on my trip, when I had a bad day or felt like I couldn't or didn't want to continue, I should remember one thing; why I was there in the first place.
I nodded and thanked him, but I gave the advice a mental brush off, stuffing it in the back of my brain. Why would I need that, I thought, I'm on a once in a lifetime trip with friends, doing something good. I won't face any doubt or hurdles, emotional, mental or physical.
Of course I was wrong, as arrogant teenagers often are, and mustered up that sage wisdom of my father's more than once along my journey in Kenya, and was 1000 times better off for it.
And now I keep that advice close at hand in whatever I do. Whenever I start to grumble and get discouraged at the ice cream store where I work, I try to remember why I am there. I am there to serve ice cream, I am there to make people smile, help a family connect, a child find the extraordinary in the ordinary and give a sweet end to a sometimes bitter day. And when I remember this I realize the smiles and laughter much more and my tired legs and negative thoughts much less.
So I am grateful for fatherly advice. I am grateful that wisdom, kindness and knowledge can be passed from generation to generation to make this world a better place.
On the eve of my departure to Kenya, almost four years ago, my dad and I were talking, probably about the Blue Jays or something, when he suddenly gave me some of that fatherly advice. He told me that when I faced adversity on my trip, when I had a bad day or felt like I couldn't or didn't want to continue, I should remember one thing; why I was there in the first place.
I nodded and thanked him, but I gave the advice a mental brush off, stuffing it in the back of my brain. Why would I need that, I thought, I'm on a once in a lifetime trip with friends, doing something good. I won't face any doubt or hurdles, emotional, mental or physical.
Of course I was wrong, as arrogant teenagers often are, and mustered up that sage wisdom of my father's more than once along my journey in Kenya, and was 1000 times better off for it.
And now I keep that advice close at hand in whatever I do. Whenever I start to grumble and get discouraged at the ice cream store where I work, I try to remember why I am there. I am there to serve ice cream, I am there to make people smile, help a family connect, a child find the extraordinary in the ordinary and give a sweet end to a sometimes bitter day. And when I remember this I realize the smiles and laughter much more and my tired legs and negative thoughts much less.
So I am grateful for fatherly advice. I am grateful that wisdom, kindness and knowledge can be passed from generation to generation to make this world a better place.
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