This morning, I awoke with the desire to make a gift for my sons, Barry, Brian, and John this Father’s Day, so I sat down at my computer to let them know what I was thinking about. After emailing it to them, it occurred to me that it is worth sharing here. I hope you enjoy it.
The Preamble
Once each year Father’s day leaves a philosophical door ajar just long enough and wide enough to push a bit of fatherly advice through. I am taking that opportunity. This is what I wrote this morning with the three of you in mind. It applies to everyone in my opinion but many cannot see. I am proud that all of you will “get it” and that you are productive, intelligent and responsible men. You live in a time of cataclysmic change. This reality produces both great chaos and great opportunity for those with the keen eye to see it with the discipline to pursue it. Happy Father’s Day! LT
Advice for Prospering in a Strange World
Discover and claim your core values. Make them the central reason for everything you do. Create a life mission based on the values you choose. Develop a vision to apply your life mission in all verticals of life that are important to you. Do this for family, work, charitable activities and friends. It will bring order where chaos is always a possibility.
The world around you will suggest an increasing flow of enticing attitudes, activities and actions. If they are not consistent with the values at your center you will find them unfulfilling.
Expect constant change in every institution that touches your life. Do not resist change as your energy will be wasted. Instead, look for patterns. There will be a place for you in any new order if you perceive what you must learn and what new paths will lead to a productive and satisfying place.
Though it may be easy, do not blame others or factions or movements for blocking your path. Avoid that temptation robustly. Whatever they are doing it is about them not you. They will eventually and unavoidably answer for their actions. You are accountable for your own.
Develop a keen ability to analyze. Sift through the constant stream of data designed, selected and disseminated to pull you toward a single focus. The world is connected at every junction today. Clinging to a narrowly focused viewpoint, diametrically opposed to other narrowly focused points of view will not serve you. People who seek similarities rather than differences bring value. Those who promote differences waste time.
Finally, find a spiritual center that works for you. While you may resist dogma, tradition and power structure it is clear that there is an order to life and the universe that is beyond our scope of complete understanding. Seek harmony with that order.
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7 Responses to Father’s Day: Advice for Prospering in a Strange World
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This is the best Father’s day I’ve ever had, considering I’m not, as far as I know, a father. I loved it enough to tweet, blog, and facebook it myself!
Barry, I am glad you like these thoughts. LT
*applause*
This is artfully written and important to have read. In fact, we plan to read it regularly and use it as a guide. Happy Father’s Day to you, Dad!
Lisa, thanks for your comment. coming from another writer it is much appreciated. coming from my daughter in law it is treasured. LT
I feel very fortunate to have found this article via a LinkedIn update. Barry showed up in the update, and he commented on the Father’s Day gift from his Father. It is obvious that Les has mastered that “older and wiser” attribute, but I am still working on it. I feel honored to join Les’ boys and be part of the group who “get it.”
Don, I’ve watched what you do for your kids. I don’t know about the older part but I certainly see the wiser part in you. Thanks for your kind words.