I must be doing something right. My middle son won the MN Father's Day Essay contest for the 10th grade. I'm so very proud of him and his writing. It was a very humbling experience as you can see by my expression in the photo.
Be Like Water
“Be like water,” my father says. “The water does not worry about the rock that crosses its path. It simply flows until it makes contact, where it slides over, under, or around it.” My father’s explanation continues as we sit in the small fishing boat, rocking back and forth lazily in the green waves. “Water simply flows where it wants and can be strong or weak, calm or rapid, still or rushing.” He speaks from experience. Many years ago he told me he had problems with stress; those feelings of anxiety and stress burn through your core, and consume you. Like father, like son they say. Well, my father and I are a lot alike in that way.
Those words my father has said have stuck with me, all through these long, stressful, high school years. Like demons these worries and doubts climb from the depths of your mind and creep up on you. Subtly, they take over your life and rob you of happiness. Only those who have fought with it time and time again have the strength to fight with you. My father is one of those people. Only now do I realize how much he has given to me, not just presents and gifts, but time and advice.
His advice and his caring have been the greatest gift, and he has shown me whenever we are together. He can use the waves of Lake Vieux Desert to explain relaxation, songs of Bob Marley and Dave Matthews Band to explain drive and motivation, and brutal triathlons to show perfectionism. Some dads give gifts, others advice, my dad gives all of that, and peace of mind.
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