Dads

It’s tough being a dad…

We have a TV but don’t have cable.  As a result we don’t get any TV channels (remember when you didn’t need to have cable to watch TV… [sigh]).  Anyway, what it means is that I have no idea what shows are on TV anymore.

So I did an internet search to find out who might be described as the best TV Dads in the current crop of offerings from Hollywood.  We love lists so there were plenty of hits for me to wade through. 

One list I found didn’t include a single example of a good TV dad from the last 30 years!  I guess I’m not missing much. 

I was working my way through another list when I found they had included Homer Simpson… 

I had to double check the heading of the article.  It was: “Greatest TV Dads of All Time”

Homer Simpson?!?  As one of the greatest TV dads of all time?  Seriously, who writes this stuff? Clearly we’re operating with a different definition of “great” and “all time”… and “dad” for that matter… 

It reminded me of a report I heard a couple of years ago.  The reporter talked about how fathers are often portrayed in the media, in commercials and movies as buffoons, clumsy and concerned only with drinking beer and hanging out with their immature college buddies.  They went on to refer to “media dads” as being incompetent when it comes to any sort of meaningful relationship, unworthy of authority and nothing short of a hazard when left alone with children…

[sigh] It’s tough being a Dad…

To all you dads out there doing your best to do your best…  standing with your face to the storm… trying to shelter your family as you desperately try to remain sane…

…you have my respect and gratitude.

Who am I... really

So one year I decided I was going to “live life to the full”… I was going to seize every opportunity that came my way.  I was going to enter every contest.  I was going to “walk through every door” as it were and open wide every window.

It was both exhilarating and humbling… 

At one point I entered a writing contest.  I really thought I had a good chance of winning it... 

I didn't ... 

I wasn't the runner-up... 

…didn't even make the short list. 

In an attempt to bandage my bruised ego I started imagining things.  Maybe they didn’t get my entry.  Maybe someone has it in for me. I bet the winner had someone on the inside!  Yeah!  That’s it! The whole thing was rigged!

Really?

Probably my entry just wasn’t good…  (I was going to try to save face by adding “enough” to the end of that sentence)

Ouch!  That hurt (a single tear trickles down my cheek)

I’ve spent years on both sides of the audition desk.  If I haven’t “seen it all” I’ve seen a pretty good chunk of it.  I’ve seen…

…people who were brilliant and knew it.

…people who had talent to spare but really didn’t care.

…people who were naturally talented and didn’t realize that can only take you so far.

…people who worked hard and it showed.

…people who worked hard… and it would never show.

…people who had been told all their lives that they were gifted – by people who clearly had no idea what they were talking about.

What if your “entry” isn’t good?

[choking back a sob]

OH GET OVER IT - nobody is saying you are a bad person or anything - It's just maybe there are better actors, story-tellers, singers, or writers, or composers, or runners, or hockey-players, or skaters or whatever...  Maybe you are not the best - it's not the end of the world!

...unless it causes you to refuse to accept, pursue and become who you really are...

just sayin…