My father is requesting that all family members come by... no, not for a typical family reunion, but for Father's Day. They say that people sometimes get a sense about things, and I have a feeling that my dad knows the end is near.
I am not complaining. I have had the amazing good fortune of having him around for longer than most. He is 95.5 and pretty darn present.
It has me thinking about the various roles we play in life: child, parent, parent to our inner child, parent becomes child, and child becomes parent's parent... it's endless in all the possible permutations.
I recently asked my fad for his five top life lessons, and this seems like a perfect time to share them:
1. Lead your own life. Know who you are and be true to yourself.
2. Be satisfied with what you have. Don't go looking to other people for validation or compare yourself to others -- that goes nowhere.
3. Be very grateful for what you have. Appreciate everything, from nature to relationships to waking up another day. Looking at things with the right perspective allows you to see that what you have is all you need, and more.
4. It's all about family. That is what is important, that everyone is happy and lives a good life.
5. Love is what matters most. After all the ups and down that life sends our way, after all the careers and hopes and dreams, what stands out and will always remain is love.
This may or may not be his last Father's Day; he has surprised us before. No matter what, I will always cherish my dad's life lessons and pass them on to my own children as the cycle continues. Happy Father's Day to all.
For more by Randy Taran, click here.
For more on happiness, click here.