“There are no strangers here. Only friends you haven’t met yet.” William Butler Yeats Our Responsibilities Recently I watched an episode of former President Obama’s podcast, A Great Book with Barack Obama. Tom Hanks was his guest. During the interview Mr. Hanks expressed his thoughts about our responsibilities as human beings. In sum, he said…
Last week I took a long hike in the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. Although we had been hiking in that park before, on this day we took a different path. We decided to explore trails and experience sights we had not seen before. At the trailhead we looked carefully at the map of…
Last weekend I traveled to my alma mater Purdue University to attend a football game for the first time in many years. It was a trip down memory lane for me. We arrived early and had the opportunity to walk around campus. As we did, memories flowed from 50 years ago when I was an…
This week I had an encounter that reminded me of another value we ought to pass on to our children. It was a deja vu moment from my coaching days when we tried to teach the value of appreciation. I wrote about my original efforts inTake Them by the Hand. Here is an excerpt from…
I have recently returned from a week long hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains in western Canada. My adventure was centered around the town of Banff and four national parks. It was delightful trip, and I saw places (awe inspiring views, epic vistas, serene mountain lakes, etc.) that I had never seen before. Like so…
In his Inaugural Address in 1989, President George H.W. Bush said, “America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the Nation and gentler the face of the world.” Previously, Bush had famously called…
I have been thinking a lot about the values we need to pass on to our children. How we fill their back packs. Recently, I have written about the need to teach hard work, discipline, civility, kindness and perseverance. I have written about dads making themselves available for conversation with their kids. I have written…
Prom Night? When we first began Be There Dad we talked about how and from whom our children would get their life lessons and advice. Most dads readily agreed that there were lots of potential sources. Our kids listened to other kids on the playground. Kids on the school bus. In the locker room. Late…
This month, once again I saw signs that renewed my optimism about the future of our community and restored my confidence that a new season is coming. Spring Practice During the past few weeks some middle schools have engaged students in their first spring practices. Eighth grade. A time of learning, growing, just beginning to…
In the Beginning When I started my Be There Dad journey, my kids were young, so I was seeking to understand how I could personally be the best dad possible. In my pursuit of an answer, I eventually focused on my own dad. It seemed that my brothers and I had turned out well as…