The Father I've Always Wanted
Today is a special day for me.
It's not any ordinary Father's Day.
This one is special.
You see, for the first time in my 37 years, I've discovered the father I've always wanted.
My history with my father is long and complicated. Basically, we never seemed to "get" each other. We were emotionally distant, disconnected. This was amplified by my mother's death when I was 15. Our grief tore us apart instead of bringing us together.
I tried to control my dad. Tried to make him be the way I expected him to be. Of course, it never worked. My control just made things worse. And I felt more alone than ever.
Than a wonderful thing started to happen. I decided to let go of the tug of war. Let go of how my dad should be and begin to accept him for how he is.
I began to love him for who he is.
Just a couple of weeks ago, my dad and I took a road trip to Washington DC. I was keynoting the ICF Capital Coaches conference. My dad had never heard me speak professionally before. It was a special time. We met each other in truly unique and open ways. And we enjoyed each other.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to love my dad for who he is, for this opportunity, even late in life, to have the father I've always wanted.
It's an amazing thing when you let go of control and just start showing up -- showing up and allowing things to be.
Then you see the beauty all around you.
And in you.
