Who Are You?

Posted by Frankly Francis on November 24, 2009 under Personal | 3 Comments to Read

True story.  A good story?  I hope so.  It works for me so I thought I’d share:

A few years ago.  Out with a few guys for dinner/drinks.  It is work related, but social.  I’m low man on the totem pole.  We end-up at main guy’s house for a last soda…or many.  Sitting outside.  Fire going.  Mondo stars.

One of the guys looks at the rest of us and asks, “If you could only tell your children one thing, what would it be?”  Conceivably, not a light-weight question…

…If you could only tell your children one thing, what would it be?”

Being the restrained guy that I am, I instantly blurted out, I would tell them, “Just be who you are!”  The words were leaving my lips and I was listening to them.  Just came out of me.  Like a spontaneous combustion response.

Had time to think about it and, I stand by it.

There are lots of things to say to our children.  All kinds of advice to give.  The passing on of life lessons is important.  Active parenting is critical.  However, for me what’s paramount is not deciding my kids’ way, but being there to help guide them on the pathway of their own choice.

I trust that as a parent (and myself, as an individual) I have lived-up to that.

I’ve seen too many people transformed into something they are not.  So many that are what others want them to be.  So many that are not fulfilled in their employment.  So many that are not what they really wish for themselves.

So,

Just Be Who You Are

Who else can you really be anyways?

Frankly,

Francis