Adam Patrick Kindilien knows a father’s advice can be priceless, and he’s grateful for the gift.
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A little over a decade ago, my father gave me some life-changing advice. I’ve posted this story on Facebook, before. I was at a crossroads in my life, a low point, in which I wasn’t sure I knew how to, or wanted to, continue on my current path. I was feeling, very deeply, the consequences of bad decisions. I was lost, having lied to, and manipulated, the very people who held my well being in the highest regard (my family), because I was too ashamed to be honest with them.
I asked my father, choked up through tears, what I was supposed to do. I didn’t have an answer, I didn’t know what to do, what decision to make. He said, very simply, “Just do something.”
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I asked my father, choked up through tears, what I was supposed to do. I didn’t have an answer, I didn’t know what to do, what decision to make. He said, very simply, “Just do something.”
I’m going to tear up right now. Here it goes … I’m lucky to have both of my parents still in my life. Not everyone has been afforded such a blessing. Not everyone who has their parents still in their life has a solid relationship with them. I’m fortunate. I know that. I’ve also spend countless days, months, and years squandering the opportunity to build on that blessing. My goal is to be the best son I can be, as well as to be the best human being I can be.
It hasn’t been easy to talk about my life with my father. For some reason I find it hard to articulate, as I have tremendous difficulty being honesty with him about my feelings. I’m pretty sure it’s because I feel so incredibly inferior. And for someone who is (dare I say so) remarkably confident in his life, that’s hard to come to terms with. I have no problem hugging my manager at the restaurant, or the guest who appreciated that I bought them their appetizer, or any other passerby in my life who I may have touched in a human way for the moment, and yet … the very thought of hugging my father makes me lose feeling in my body and sense in my mind,
I’m trying every day to be a better man, but most importantly a better son. Because I still have you in my life, Because you gave me the fundamentals that make me, me. Because you loved me and fought for me, when few others did. Because you deserve it. Because I love you.
My father is simple. My father is complex. My father is strong, My father is intelligent and articulate. My father is romantic. My father is charismatic and a leader, My father is humble and full of resonance.
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My father is simple. My father is complex. My father is strong, My father is intelligent and articulate. My father is romantic. My father is charismatic and a leader, My father is humble and full of resonance. My father embodies the type of man I continually fail to be, but strive to emulate. My father is my dad. And I love this man.
TO Glenn Alan Kindilien, Happy Father’s Day, from your son who wishes he could be as good a man as you’ve been to me, every second of my life.
I Love You.
Photo—Barney Moss/Flickr
GREAT read Adam … Thank you for sharing it. I tear up as well when I speak of or write about my dad. You are truly blessed to have both your parents in your life. My mom and dad are long gone but it’s my dad that I miss the most. Cherish ALL the time you have with them.