In several Latin American countries and even the US, in the middle of June, we celebrated Father’s Day. As a result of this celebration, I want to share with you the BEST gift that my wife and my three daughters, who are now 21, 18, and 14 years old, gave me.
In some past articles, I have told you that for a little over two years I have been living with my entire family in Buenos Aires – Argentina. We had to move with all our pets from Lima – Peru, including Brisa, a 5-month-old Golden Retriever puppy at the time.
It was a radical change in the lives of each of the family members…
- My wife assumed a new job responsibility in an American company, leading a new work team in a culture different from ours, having to travel to other countries many times for several days.
- Each of the girls are in a new reality, be it at university, in the last two years of school, or finishing primary school respectively.
- In my case, adapting to this new life… taking charge of things around the house, and sharing much more time with the girls.
Accustomed to a family, work and social life in good conditions, we have fought it, and suffered, with ups and downs. However, if I look in the rearview mirror of life, I am sure that it was the best decision we and Jessica made.
At this point, you will be curious and think that what I have described has to do with the BEST gift that my daughters gave me for Father’s Day, is that all three of them verbalized at the age they are today and that it is not easy… that mutual love, displayed in things as simple as…
- The initial trip to and from the university by bus (a little more than 2 ½ hours), then by car, when we already had this.
- Time together at school activities.
- Learning to be less “sergeant” with household chores and valuing this work in its true dimension.
- Being at the forefront of a possible illness, heartbreak, etc.
- The icing on the cake was what Jessica told me: “today I admire you and want you more, you have changed for the better.”
From my perspective, it is that: “things don’t happen for a reason, they gappen for something.” I am convinced that I am on the right path of trying to be a better person and thus lead by example and with simple things, this company (my family) that GOD has entrusted and gifted to me. And I have a lot, a lot, a lot to go and improve, I haven’t won anything yet, I don’t doubt that, what I am sure of is that what I have achieved so far was not just with my effort
Here I share with you what has worked for me.
Daily Mass.- Yes, I was not wrong when writing this point… I listen to daily Mass first thing in the morning, via the Internet in Lima-Peru, from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday in person, close to home.
Reading.- In my case, I try to read every day for at least 20 minutes, in particular I am drawn to what is associated with the history of Peru and now also Argentina, also the lives of the saints, recently I have read two books by the psychiatrist Spanish Enrique Rojas and I have recently bought the confessions of Saint Augustine.
Exercise.- I try to run at least two or three times a week, we live near the San Isidro racecourse, so by going around it, I do 5.1 km.
Refresher courses.- In-person or virtual, related to personal leadership, also associated with business updates in general.
Entrepreneurship.- A new way of marketing the products that we sell in Lima with my brothers, using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, this startup is about to see the light of day.
I wanted to share with you this personal fact, and invite you to reflect on this topic associated with the paths of life and the personal leadership that you must display in the face of the circumstances you face today, whether you are with or without a partner, with children or without. Children, always look at how to move forward, remember that big changes are made in the micro or small. Cultivate your body, mind and of course the spiritual.
To finish, I share with you two things associated with the topic…
- A fragment of a letter from Thomas More, English chancellor of King Henry VIII, addressed to his daughter before he died. “Nothing can happen to me that GOD doesn’t want. And everything He wants, no matter how bad it may seem to us, is actually the best.”
- Part of the lyrics or fragments of a song, “Nothing disturbs you, let nothing scare you, everything passes. Only GOD is enough, Yes, only GOD. Only GOD fills the inner void…”
Let’s go ahead, let’s keep rowing against the current…!
