When was the last time you astonished yourself?
Boys,
It’s easy/tempting to focus on professional or financial achievements answering this question. The truth is I’ve been blessed with success I could have never imagined when I was your age.
I realized a few years ago just how important that last part is - creating a vision you to can imagine on just how much is available to you both. And then helping you reach for it.
It’s tough because as much as I want to hold you on my shoulders, I know it’s so much more important for you two to learn that you can do it yourself. I pray that I get this balance right as you grow up, and that you get the sense that I’m always there for you if you need me. But you are going to try on your own first.
So for this letter I decided to focus on more personal things with a few examples.
Moving to Dallas
Your Mom and I decided to move to Dallas to find a better place for us as a family, and for you to grow up in.
Sure there’s moments when we miss family and wish we were closer to people. That was the trade that we had to make.
Four years later part of me still can’t believe we actually did it. But I can say with 100% certainty that it was and still is the right choice.
Changing my Diet
It’s weird when you get to a certain age and you can start to see the possibilities narrowing in front of you. At the same time you can start feeling the absolute coldness of time marching forward. As with most things, when this happens you get a choice. Sit down, or get moving.
I chose to get moving.
One of those things was changing/improving my diet. Hopefully you never realized this as kids but I have never liked cooked fish. The taste and texture just never worked for me.
This last year I’ve been focused on changing that. Forcing myself to eat and learn to like fish and consume more of it in my normal diet. I can tell you it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it, even learning to like something you hate.
By the way, this is true of a whole slew of other things. The fish is just the biggest example for me.
Losing Weight and Loving Exercise
Today is almost exactly the six month mark from when I started really focusing on my wight. I’m down ~25 lbs from that peak with another ~25 lbs to go (weight is just a proxy for the real goal which is waist size and general body composition).
A lot of this is diet and learning how to eat healthy and properly each day. The other part is leaning into exercise as a mandatory part of my day.
I’ve been walking, running occasionally, and doing push-ups + pull-ups almost every day. In real numbers a combined total of 15 miles per week on the street, and five sets of 13 push-ups and 6 (assisted) pull-ups each day. My goal is to be able to do 100 straight push-ups and 20 straight (unassisted) pull-ups. I might get there by next summer, it might be longer, but I’ll get there I promise.
Running a Race
This last weekend I ran my first race in 30+ years. Just finishing the race without walking was my goal. Instead I dropped almost one minute off my best time and averaged 8:56/mile!
Warner I owe that last part to you. The night before you told me to “do my best, and beat 9”. I was thinking about you with each step, ran my hardest, and remembered to finish the race by sprinting through the line.
I went to do my best, and I was astonished by the result. All I could think was “I did it buddy! I did it!”
Everyday I think about how I can be a positive role model for both of you. I want you to see me working hard and reaching new heights. Not everything works out, but what’s important is trying your best.
I love you both,
Dad
