Reflecting on Fatherhood: Twenty One Years

....On the Course of Events Over Twenty One Years


My little boy is 21 today. So, that means, it was that long ago when I got to become a father, a biological dad. It's been a great time for me that, if I'm lucky, will never end.


The biggest life improvement by becoming a father was the motivation: the idea of improving myself was no longer theoretical. If I was going to avoid hurting and damaging my son, I had to become a better person, a better human.


The will to improve myself was strong. Why? Well, not only did I/do I care for him but there was the issue of "fairness." As I looked at the situation, I encouraged myself, even though I didn't know I was doing it at the time, to evaluate the justice: here was this little person who didn't ask to come into this crazy world and if I didn't alter my behaviors, my world view, he was going to get hurt. More than he should have to.


It's not an uncommon stance for most parents. And, I know I'm not that unusual for having gotten a lot out of the experience of being a parent. Some people get more, some less.


It was an awakening, though. For that, I'm quite grateful. In a spirited and cosmic way: I was opened up...to the love that was this child, this small person "made up...of molecules from the beginning of time." That's one of the things I said after he was born: "...from the beginning of time." What a concept. And he's mine.


George Moskoff, a 54 year old guy who wants to be like the Dalai Lama. www.theapgconsulting.com

How to engineer a Turnaround from Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Lord knows we could use one...http://bit.ly/co6G87

An audacious idea for philanthropist, funders: more transparency; accountability, and; authenticity. Is he nuts? http://bit.ly/9yzxu9

Micro-volunteerism: another source: Aardvark. Here's NPR's take on it. http://n.pr/jP0kY or go to http://vark.com

Fannie Mae got the contract to use $75B of Federal money to help homeowners avoid losing their homes. http://n.pr/cOnRQB