I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my dad. He was a strong man, with a wicked sense of humor and an equally wicked temper. Years of stoicism, booze and cigarettes led to his death from cancer at the ripe old age of 50. His passing left a hole in my soul that has been slowly healing over 33 years of searching and questioning since he died. I had him in my life for 20 years, and that relationship carved the very foundation of the rest of my life. As much as I have missed him, I am eternally grateful for the time I had with him.
We are molded by our relationships. Our country has made a decision regarding electing a leader. The choice came down to two men who were both also molded by their relationships. On the left we have a man who only met his father once. On the right we have a man who had the benefit of a very long and influential relationship with his father. My son Benjamin is eight months old. If I learn anything from our two possible presidents, it is that whatever I do with my son, however I mold him, ultimately it is his internal drive and spirit that will shape him. I can teach him about caring and compassion, about love and purpose but it’s not up to me to determine his fate.
This blog post was written by Alan Philip Lyme, author of the book, Game Plan – A Man’s Guide to Achieving Emotional Fitness.
