Happy Father's Day

I WOULD LIKE THIS MESSAGE TO BE ONE THAT HONORS AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO MY DAD.  aT A TIME OF SHIFTING VALUES, IN A TIME OF QUICK CHANGE, IN A TIME OF CHANGE FOR SAKE A GREAT DAD IS A KEY STONE. 

KAUPO, MAUI WAS A SMALL, NOT SO WET, WIND SWEPT VILLAGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF MAUI.  CATTLE, PLANTATION, AND PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD GATHERED WHERE THE VOLCANO, HALEAKALA, MET THE SEA.  THERE YOU WOULD FIND CHILDREN OF KAUPO FISHING AND PLAYING AS CARE FREE CHILDREN DO.

BUT EVEN IN THIS SLEEPY PLANTATION VILLAGE THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES.  DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES WERE PRESENT WITH DIFFERENT HUMAN BEHAVIORS, JEALOUSIES, ENVY, SPITE, AND DEGREES OF LOVE WITHIN EACH RACE.  SOME PEOPLE LIVED ON THE "BETTER SIDE" OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS.  tHERE WERE BOYS SQUAbbling with each other, fighting with each other.  A kind of human education was being learned - good or bad.  i don't know what the girls were doing because this is the only from dads perspective.  although he had three sisters i don't think he knew either. 

His mom and dad wanted him to be successful.  born in 1920, his young life, his young manhood led him through the 1029 depression and world war ii.  i cannot imagine how life would be, going through 16 years of tough times in our country.  the world was very tough.  there was no touchy -feely-ness, but tough expectations and tough criticism.  corporate bosses were hard and labor unions were hard.  there was thug behavior from the short sleeved open collared shirt union.  there was thug behavior from the suit and tie corporate leaders. 

My dad lived an amazing life from poor boy on the rural side of Maui.  He started as a clerk for the Matson shipping company and retired as the head sales.  At sixty-five he led and grew a freight forwarding company.  sales and business grew sixty percent plus under his watch.  He started an air freight arm there.  He's been a father of six successful, resilient, kind  hearted men.

on vacation to see  my dad, as we talk for hours at breakfast time, we bring mutual love and respect to the table.  dad brings a wealth of business experience and lessons from the bottom of the corporate circles.  As i progress in life I too bring a different kind of wealth and experience to the table.  We compare, contrast, and challenge our thoughts and experience.  Sometimes we have pointed, strong conversations.  We laugh, we console each other, we confirm each other.  What a rich opportunity of life.  And I know life does not get better than this.  this will not last forever.  

When I lost my best friend, I called my dad and my step mom to ask to come home for a few days.  And he said yes - come, stay longer. 

At eighty-five years old, he has lost much sight and it legally blind.  i cannot imagine what it is like walking in his shoes.  Yes it is frustrating - very much so.  But he is finding a way to find value in life.  Ten years ago when he suffered through bypass surgery he's been able to slowly take off that tough skin he needed to perform and survive his business career. 

The role of a Great dad has been severely under valued, diminished and swept aside in much of our society.  The work of a Good Dad is immeasurable - it's priceless. 

So, to the happy and wise fathers and our sons out there, and I 've met many in my practice, Happy father's day !!!
Honor yourself too!!
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