Karamo Brown, from Netflix’s Queer Eye remake, described a powerful scene in his recent book. He was sitting with his son, working on a school paper when his son asked him if he was living out his dream. At the time, he wasn’t, but the moment was a turning point for him because he realized the example he wanted to set for his children. He wanted his sons to see a father continuing to chase dreams, even as he got older.
I came to that same realization the day my daughter was born.
Like most parents, I want to set the best possible example for my child. I want her to see someone who is humble, patient, strong, loving, and hard-working. At the end of the day, I want her to believe that anything in this life is possible if she’s willing to work hard, and believe in herself.
The problem was, I wasn’t a living example of someone who believed that anymore.
At a certain point in my life I stopped believing that I could accomplish anything if I worked hard and believed in myself. Sure, I’ll never be a Wimbledon winning tennis player, or record a multi-platinum pop album, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other dreams that I can accomplish.
How come I stopped dreaming? Why did I start to believe that after 30 years (not yet, but close enough) of living, my dreams needed to stop?
That is the reason I am doing this now. The real question is: why not now? Now is the perfect time to set an example for my child, to show her that working towards your dreams is a life-long journey.
Writing has been my dream, so I’m going to write. I’m going to write good stories, bad stories, and mediocre stories, but that is OK. I will still wake up every day and try. At the end of the day, I want my child to look at me and see a man who is working hard, and trying to believe in himself because if I’m not doing it, she won’t.
Remember, it’s never too late to try.
—
Previously Published on brian-townsend.com and is republished on Medium.
***
The Good Men Project gives people the insights, tools, and skills to survive, prosper and thrive in today’s changing world. A world that is changing faster than most people can keep up with that change. A world where jobs are changing, gender roles are changing, and stereotypes are being upended. A world that is growing more diverse and inclusive. A world where working towards equality will become a core competence. We’ve built a community of millions of people from around the globe who believe in this path forward. Thanks for joining The Good Men Project.
Support us on Patreon and we will support you and your writing! Tools to improve your writing and platform-building skills, a community to get you connected, and access to our editors and publisher. Your support will help us build a better, more inclusive world for all.
***
Photo credit: Shutterstock
