Happy Father's Day! I hope all the Dads in our community are lounging in your slippers or enjoying your favorite pastime with friends and family today!
My own father is 81 years old next month. And to be honest, I have no idea what he did for a living.
That's because Dad never talked about his work.
Every morning, Monday through Friday, Dad woke up at 6 AM, showered, dressed in a business suit, and ate a bowl of Cheerios with a banana.
By 7 AM, he hit the road in his Ford Gran Torino and headed to GTE headquarters 45 minutes away.
At four o'clock, Dad left work and was home promptly by five. He changed clothes and sat down at the supper table, where our family of four convened every night like clockwork.
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After dinner, Dad would head out to his garage workshop to whittle, cut, or jigsaw whatever woodworking project he had going at the time. Mom usually headed to her sewing room. Sometimes, my parents set up the card table and we all played a family game. On Friday and Sunday nights, we watched family movies.
Growing up within the predictable rhythm of my home life I remember feeling protected and quite safe. I don't ever recall rushing around. I don't ever remember feeling stressed out. Our home life routine was expected, rote and perhaps a bit boring.
It was divine.
As an adult, I learned that Dad had several opportunities for promotion. He was offered Vice President of his department. He declined. He was offered Vice President of his division. He declined.
You see, Dad knew something that few of us heed. Dad knew that advancing his career beyond Director - while certainly a notch on his career belt - would interfere with his entirely predictable family routine.
And while it may seem like Dad sold out, the opposite is quite true.
Dad had his eye on a different prize - the satisfaction of giving his daughters stability and teaching them the true meaning of success.
- Could we have had a bigger house? Absolutely.
- Could Dad have driven a Mercedes or Jaguar? Sure thing...all our neighbors did.
- Could Mom and Dad have taken more vacations, dined out more regularly, and purchased clothing from Neimans instead of JCP? Yes, indeed.
I guess Dad knew that while all of those signs of success feel good in the moment, nothing can trump a life lived according to what you value you most. And for my Dad, being in alignment with his true values meant being home every night for 5:30 supper.
Thanks, Dad. I love you.
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