Tag: Father

Mid Life Workaholics

“Workaholics commit slow suicide by refusing to allow the child inside them to play”. — Dr. Lawrence Susser

Recognizing the intense desire to do a good job, many people still have a challenging time overcoming mid life work addiction.

My Grandfather worked full-time, plus he ran a TV repair business out of his basement.  This was back in the day when Televisions were heavy and huge.  He had to travel to people’s homes.  This traveling and the work required to repair TV’s in the basement, plus the travel to return the TV, must have made his work commitment enormous.

My Dad worked 5 1/2 days every single week at the Paper Mill.  On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he taught 30-minute drum lessons in our living room – from 4pm until 8pm.  On Friday and Saturday nights, he played drums in a band – weddings, anniversaries, clubs, etc.

Now it’s my turn. Working at a Fortune 100 Company, there is no shortage of work to be done. And I’ve done it willingly for several decades.  Now, I’m also working on my retirement business – to help raise enough money to find a cure for our son’s Crohn’s disease.

The difference, I perceive, is that I have found creative ways to be part of our son’s life.  But only after I squandered the first four decades of my life.

It Begins With The Father

“It is said to begin with the Father”. — Maxine Kumin

Our models are our parents.  And for boys, this is primarily the Father. And if the Father is absent, well, the Father is still the model.

And even when the Father is present, he might still be absent.  This makes a compelling case for being a great Father.  BFO, right?

And yet, I don’t really recall when my Dad actually sat me down to teach me important stuff.

Maybe Maxine is full of misguided notions.  Maybe she’s right on target. This confuses me, scares me, and motivates me.  What about you?

Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!  I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and not a hundred or a thousand…..  We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without”.   — Henry David Thoreau

Sure looks good on paper.

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot on my plate:

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Career

These are the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Each one has a subset of additional topics.

1. Servant, Disciple, Church, Prayer, Emmaus Brothers, Catechism, First Holy Communion, Lector, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Cub Scouts, Networker, Volunteer, Innovator.

2. Servant, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin, Neighbor, Friend, Home Owner, Yard Man, Mechanic, Pet Owner, Chief Financial Officer, Investor, Small Business Owner, Writer, Professional Speaker, Student, Leader, Teacher, Historian, Networker, Innovator, Runner, Athlete, Comedian.

3. Servant, Leader, Follower, Team Member, Teacher, Professional Speaker, Idea Generator, Envelope Pusher, Ambassador, Spokes Person, Student, Trainer, Lead Generator, Historian, Writer, Helper, Friend, Colleague, Profit Driver, Innovator, Traveler, Listener, Planner, Comedian.

No wonder it’s so challenging for me to relax.

I’ll tell you what though, I would rather be aware of this and consciously and consistently work on simplification, than to be oblivious.

Plus, the harder I work, the luckier I get.

Carpe diem!

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Mid Life Monday?

Mid Life Monday?   Seems so.

And here’s a thought:

“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say.  I just watch what they do”. – Andrew Carnegie

This is why so many people, myself included, struggle in life.  Our intentions and our behaviors are two different things.  This sends the wrong, and unintentional, message to others.

Not until we become aware of this, admit to it, and then resolve to change, can we lead a better, more fulfilling life.

A life with more peace and contentment.

At least that’s my intent.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

Mid Life Errors?

Mid Life Errors?

“Rather an error of the intellect, than an error of the heart”. —  jeff noel

There have been times in my life when I’ve made “stupid mistakes“.  And I’m certain there are more to be made as long as I’m alive.  Ya with me?

However, there have been very few that I’ve intentionally gone out of my way to be hurtful.

It’s my intention to never do that again, ever!

While I’ll never be labeled a genius, there’s still a chance to be labeled “a good man with a good heart“.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂