Just Sharing

Visiting my parents these days often includes receiving something that they are ready to let go of and pass on. It’s interesting and somewhat surreal to watch this unfold.

This week while making an early Father’s Day visit, I was given a newspaper clipping of an article I wrote about my dad 9 years ago. It was fun to see and reread it.

In the spirit of passing things on, I am sharing it with you below.

Lessons I Learned From My Dad

I am fortunate to have a father who taught me some very important and valuable lessons. I have chosen to share a few today. My hope is that they offer some inspiration for your journey as they have for mine.

Some lessons were taught to me by what my dad said. Most, however, we're learned by watching what he did. My dad came to America from Italy when he was 22 years old. That story, alone, is one of patience, persistence, and perseverance. He was denied 3 times, but never gave up on his dream. It was here in America that he met my mom, who also came from Italy.

Growing up I heard many stories of life in Italy and how things were different for them. I remember hearing my dad tell someone that one of the first things he noticed about life in America was with the way people took showers. He was amazed at how long people stayed in the shower with no attempt to recycle the water in any way. All that water, a very valuable resource, would literally go down the drain. It seemed like such a waste to him.

The lesson for me was to use resources wisely both he and my mom provided many examples of how to do so. One example showed up in a book I was reading decades later. It was referencing the idea of “living in scarcity” and gave an example of someone saving and reusing aluminum foil. I was amazed to see this in print because we did this and I thought nothing of it. Somehow, in our home, I felt the abundance.

Another lesson I learned from my dad has to do with honesty and integrity. Again, there were many examples and one in particular that I reflect on often. It was a Sunday morning and we were getting ready for church. My dad left the house to go to the store. I asked my mom the reason.

She told me he tossed and turned all night unable to sleep. There was something weighing on him. The day before, he had gone to the local curb market to get a bag of charcoal for our weekly Saturday night cookout. He told the cashier he wanted a 5-pound bag and made his purchase. She instructed him to pick the bag up from the bin at the front of the store on his way out.

Later that evening, my dad realized he had inadvertently picked up a 10-pound bag instead. By then the market was closed.

Learning about how much this bothered my dad and how important it was for him to go back to the store as soon as it reopened made an impression on me as a young girl. There is something sacred about getting a peaceful night's sleep.

Another lesson is one that was spoken to me, often, during my teenage years. He would say it to me in Italian. Loosely translated it goes something like this, “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.”

Did I like this when I was a teenager? Not so much.

Was it true? Pretty much.

Teenage years are tough ones, both for the teens and the parents. As teens figure out who they are and who they want to become they often shift friends and friend groups. If parents push too hard in one direction they sometimes go in another.

Being a parent is challenging work and I believe most parents do the best they can. In fact, when my dad reflects on raising a family he often says, with his Italian accent, “We did the best we could.”

Dad, I think you did great. Happy Father's Day!

Wow . . .

“Pass it on.”

Here’s to more WOW Moments!

Lucy