What happened to Ward Cleaver

noreply@blogger.com (Green Done Easy) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:49:00 +0000

What Happened To Ward Cleaver?

This book is centered around the lost art of being a family man and how society has forgotten about certain core values and morals. I have written this book with a man as the center of attention or focus. This is done for the sole purpose of reminding everybody that the influence a man has on his family is tremendous and is not all about a huge paycheck every week. He is not superior to or better than any member of his family but acts as a role model, teacher and mentor for his children and an equal partner and best friend in a meaningful and rewarding marriage to his wife.

Without the core values and principal centered morals, he cannot be a true family man. He must figure out what it takes to create a balance in all aspects of his life and act on that balance vigorously. He needs to identify what is influencing him, his family and his marriage and make the necessary changes to correct a problem or alleviate the influence.

I remember when I was a young boy, maybe 10, I had purchased a plaque for my dad for father's day and it read "Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to a dad". I saw that phrase almost 30 years ago and there is not a single day that goes by in my life that I don't reflect on it.

It has such powerful implications and meaning and I no longer ask myself which one I am, a dad or a father. Truth be told, I am a dad and a very good one at that. I know that may sound pompous or arrogant but when I look around at the family that my wife and I have created I can't help but say to myself "we've done good".

Being a good dad is not measured solely on how many times you have a catch with your son or daughter or by sipping tea at a teddy bear tea party, or creating a massive G.I. Joe fort. It's about balance, patience and attention. It's about all the things that society has said that we as men need to do; Earn a good living, provide a safe home, love, honor and respect their mother, set a good example and so on. I truly believe that it goes much deeper than all those things. To get to the heart of the matter you really need to evaluate what is important and what is not. It's also about priorities and necessities.

Lets face it, we are without a doubt, a reflection of our parents in some way shape or form and the childhood we had has a direct impact on our lives. The question is - "What type of impact is it?" We can all sit here all day and blame everything on our parents and specifically our fathers but it is time to accept responsibility for our own lives and our own actions. I do not have a medical degree and do not profess to be a psychology guru but I can tell you this from experience; Every action I take as a parent is based on logic, experience, wisdom and a desire to be a better father to my children than my father was to me.

I don't mean for that statement to sound as though I hate my father. In fact, I love my father more today that I have ever loved him. What my statement is meant to imply is that I want more for my children than I had. I want each generation below me to learn something from the previous generation and improve on it. There would be nothing more satisfying to me in my old age than to see my children and grandchildren more loving, caring, nurturing, patient, spiritual and financially independent than I ever was.

There are so many things affecting the way a family operates. Many of those things are out of our hands and we have very little control over them. That is why it is imperative that we gain control over what we can control - our own lives.

In my very humble opinion, the ever pondered question of "what is the meaning of life?" can be summed up by saying this; The meaning of life rests in personal knowledge and peace. The knowledge that if during your life you have honestly and truly been a servant of others and have a deep desire to see other people succeed through your personal efforts then the internal peace and serenity that is often sought after will be yours.

How much simpler can it be? Think about it. Happiness is a very subjective topic and one that has been measured in so many ways. Is happiness finding a million dollars and buying all kinds of material things and helping your family get what they want and need? Sure it is! How about this, is happiness keeping half and giving half to 10 families that really and truly need it and DRAMATICALLY changing their lives in the process. Again, think about it.

Happiness is something that comes from within and is self-generated. It is something that is pure and cannot be truly defined. My happiness comes as a direct result of my family's happiness. That's what this book is all about. It's about finding the balance of emotions, desires, needs and above all the service of others - Your Family!

I would like to continue writing on this subject and could be convinced to actually finish it as a full book. Let me know what you think and whether or not I am making any sense.

noreply@blogger.com (Green Done Easy) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:48:00 +0000

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