What happens when your child doesn't respect you because of decisions you've made? This is the story of how one man found healing in his relationship with his son.
I just got a chance to read. What a phone call. What special, honest interactions with Josh you have. Impressive to see your lovely, genuine conversations and the way that you even share all of this with the world. Powerful stuff.
Thank you for sharing this. My eyes are a little moist. That call from your son is the best evidence you'll ever get that you showed him what being a father truly is -- recognizing your weaknesses and developing them.
Jeff, this is beautiful. The story, the words, the seminal moment between you and your son.
The best example we can set for our kids is to keep moving in the direction of what brings us alive.
I might offer another perspective on your sharing - that we all struggle to stick with things that are too small for us, things that don't ignite our passion. It's as if we all, even as adults, are trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up. And in our struggle to figure it out, comes a tension from moving toward what feeds our soul while also providing for our family if we have one. We may need to close the door on a job, or a vocation, or move to a different place, to create the space to open up what is next, to get in touch with what brings our heart and our soul alive. I think there is a lesson your son will take, respect he already has and will notice even more over time, in you NOT sticking with those things that don't bring you alive.
James, thank you for the kind words and encouragement.
Early in my Substacking days...almost a year ago now... I posted an article about some of my professional failures. If I have regret about them, it is that each of those failures wasn't so much about the job, but that I didn't value the learning process. I actually DID find things in each of them that brought me energy and joy. I even saw opportunity to make the experience of those I worked with better. But that meant hard work, so I pivoted, sometimes making excuses. I think wish I'd understood that the journey is as, if not more important than the destination. I think I understand this idea better now. Though it is still difficult sometimes.
Now my son is old enough that we can remind each other!
Here is the link to the old article, should you be interested.
I just got a chance to read. What a phone call. What special, honest interactions with Josh you have. Impressive to see your lovely, genuine conversations and the way that you even share all of this with the world. Powerful stuff.
Thanks, Jes!
Thank you for sharing this. My eyes are a little moist. That call from your son is the best evidence you'll ever get that you showed him what being a father truly is -- recognizing your weaknesses and developing them.
Thank you, Jeff. He's a good kid. I'm quite blessed to have him.
Also, moist eyes are the best sometimes!
Jeff, this is beautiful. The story, the words, the seminal moment between you and your son.
The best example we can set for our kids is to keep moving in the direction of what brings us alive.
I might offer another perspective on your sharing - that we all struggle to stick with things that are too small for us, things that don't ignite our passion. It's as if we all, even as adults, are trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up. And in our struggle to figure it out, comes a tension from moving toward what feeds our soul while also providing for our family if we have one. We may need to close the door on a job, or a vocation, or move to a different place, to create the space to open up what is next, to get in touch with what brings our heart and our soul alive. I think there is a lesson your son will take, respect he already has and will notice even more over time, in you NOT sticking with those things that don't bring you alive.
Thank you again for the beautiful story.
James, thank you for the kind words and encouragement.
Early in my Substacking days...almost a year ago now... I posted an article about some of my professional failures. If I have regret about them, it is that each of those failures wasn't so much about the job, but that I didn't value the learning process. I actually DID find things in each of them that brought me energy and joy. I even saw opportunity to make the experience of those I worked with better. But that meant hard work, so I pivoted, sometimes making excuses. I think wish I'd understood that the journey is as, if not more important than the destination. I think I understand this idea better now. Though it is still difficult sometimes.
Now my son is old enough that we can remind each other!
Here is the link to the old article, should you be interested.
https://open.substack.com/pub/theunfilteredscribe596/p/coming-to-terms-with-professional?r=kfke9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true