It’s been years since I’ve had to ‘learn’ anything from my dad. I’m still learning once in a while. He’s around. He’s quiet. He’s supportive. He’s here. But it was the early years that he taught me so much.
It’s Father’s Day. I dedicate this musing to the things I’ve learned, from my dad. Forever Grateful. Thank you Dad.
There are many skills, characteristic, strengths, and behaviours that we take for granted. Assuming that they were always there, or that we developed them all on our own. That’s just not true. We have shaped ourselves over the years, through the interaction with people, whether the interactions were positive or negative. Whether memorable or not. They still influenced our every thought. Parents have the greatest role of steering our development from the beginning, to, well, a very long time.
My Dad The Yogi
Taught me about yoga and the breath long before it was cool, hip, or even known anywhere. Not disclosing my age, but it was a looong time ago.
My Dad The Naturalist
Took us on long walks through woods collecting mushrooms and picking hazelnuts right of the trees. We would get home and fry up the mushrooms for dinner. Fresh picked food, before it was trendy. He explored herbs and used plants for healing, for as long as I can remember. I’m right behind him every step of the way. He still makes me Swedish Bitters every year.
My Dad the Sports Enthusiast
Showed me his love for sports, mainly soccer for him. It sparked a love of ALL sports for me. I was encouraged to play tennis, basketball, badminton, racquetball, to ski, run, swim, and bike. Oh how much I love biking now. Had a bike everywhere we went, whichever country, or home we had. Biking was always there.
My Dad the Cheering Squad
I didn’t realize how much time he sacrificed until much later in my life. Such it is with young people. It takes time to look back and see all the gifts our parents had given. For years, my dad woke at 6am every winter sunday to drive me to meet the cross country ski team. So we could train and compete. Years of cold, winter, sundays, cheering me on to learn, to have fun, to experience life.
Every September, he would take me to a fancy art supply store, and ask ‘so, what do you need for school?’ – This very simple, small act instilled a love of school in me that is here still today.
My Dad the Listener
My dad always listened and asked questions. His mind took in the information and then he said ‘maybe’ or ‘how do you know’. Learning to listen and question has taught me to explore life everyday.
For these things I am grateful. Thank you Dad.
Happy Father’s Day.
