What Did You Learn From Your Dad?

 

I was thinking about fathers today — what they give us, what we learn from them and how those lessons stay with us long after they're gone. Some of us were fortunate to have fathers who showed up consistently and taught us through words and actions. Others learned from father figures, mentors or the absence of them. Whether our experiences were filled with warmth or marked by complicated emotions, many of us carry something forward from these relationships that shaped us. What strikes me most about fatherhood isn't its perfection but its impact. The values we choose to embrace, the traditions we carry forward and, sometimes, the cycles we consciously break are parts of this inheritance. We can honor what was meaningful while creating our own definitions of what it means to care for others. Today, whether we're celebrating, remembering, reconciling or simply acknowledging the complex emotions this day brings, we can take a moment to recognize the lessons that strengthen us, the memories that guide us and the love — whether abundantly given or achingly absent — that shape our understanding of care and commitment. What will you choose to carry forward? What will you leave behind? These choices make our journeys uniquely ours, even as they connect us to those who came before. Happy Father's Day!

Can a Mother's Instinct Change the World?

 

The influence of mothers shapes us in subtle and profound ways. Although every mother doesn’t achieve heroic recognition, their daily choices, their persistent faith in our potential and their quiet wisdom help build the foundation of who we become. Through their example and encouragement, we often find strength we didn't know we had. During the 1950s, when Eustacia Cutler took her 4-year-old daughter Temple to the doctor, she heard words no mother wants to hear. The doctors diagnosed Temple with autism and then recommended institutionalization — the standard medical advice of that era. They said Temple would never speak, never connect, never thrive. But Eustacia saw something different in her daughter's eyes. Where others saw only limitations, she noticed how Temple could think in pictures, how she related to animals in unique ways and how she processed the world differently — not wrongly. Against the prevailing wisdom of the time, Eustacia made a bold decision. Instead of institutionalizing Temple, she created an enriched environment at home. She hired a speech therapist, encouraged Temple's natural interests and, most importantly, presumed competence when others assumed limitation. Her insight proved transformative. Temple Grandin went on to earn a Ph.D., revolutionize animal science, design more-humane livestock-handling equipment used worldwide and become one of the world's most-influential voices in understanding autism. Today, Dr. Temple Grandin often credits her success to her mother's early insight. "My mother never gave up on me,” she said. “She recognized that different didn't mean less." Sometimes a mother's wisdom isn't just about raising a child; it's about changing the world's perspective, one person at a time. Happy Mother's Day!

The Art of Looking

 

In a small coastal town, an elderly woman spent decades running the local antique shop. Every April, she would close her store for two weeks - not for vacation, but for what she called "the renewal." Visitors often wondered why she dedicated so much time to spring cleaning when her shop already sparkled. Her response was always the same: "I'm not just cleaning, I'm rediscovering." Each year, as she moved each piece in her shop, she would find something extraordinary - a hidden hallmark on a silver teapot, a forgotten note tucked in a vintage book, or simply a new way to display an overlooked item. These discoveries often led to the most remarkable sales of the year. But her greatest insight came when a young apprentice asked why she didn't hire others to help speed up the process. She smiled and explained, "Some treasures can only be found by slowing down. Each piece needs to be held, considered, and appreciated anew. Sometimes the most valuable discoveries aren't the items themselves, but the fresh perspectives we gain when we take time to truly see them again." Like those antiques, our lives often hold unexpected treasures - insights, opportunities, and possibilities that only reveal themselves when we pause to look at things with fresh eyes.