What does it mean to be a Father? That was something that I thought about as I matured and certainly even more so when I discovered that I was going to be a dad myself a little over 11 years ago.
Since that time, my perspective has certainly changed although some things have held true with my early beliefs. When I first contemplated being a dad to a little person; the thing that stood out for me was my memories of how I looked up to my parents when I was young, specifically my Dad. I looked to him for all my answers to my questions. The thought of my own child looking to me in the same way was in some ways overwhelming if I dwelled on it too long. Although I had a generally good childhood, I did experience some struggles, especially finding opportunities to spend quality time with my dad after my parents divorced when I was 7 years old. This was an extraordinarily strong personal motivator for me to give my own daughter an incredibly positive experience with her Dad as she grew up.
I genuinely wanted to be the best Dad I could to my daughter and provide support to her in every way possible. I wanted her to know I would always be there for her throughout her life, no matter what. I have learned over the last 11 years that being that best Dad is not always possible. Sometimes you must be the tough parent, and sometimes you are not always at your best for lots of reasons. I make a point of telling her how much I love her every day, no matter what type of day I am having or how she is behaving that day (we all have rough days sometimes). This is something I hope she carries with her through her life and hopefully passes on to her own children if she has them. Telling someone you care about them is a powerful act, and one we should embrace openly.
Having established ZENEA Watches last year, one of the core brand philosophies is “Appreciate Every Moment”. Having this philosophy top of mind has been a powerful thing for me over the last 18 months, and certainly contributes to how I approach my life every day, not only with the ZENEA brand but also my life and approach as a father. It’s made me more self-aware of the profound impact one can have as a Father and opened myself up to a deeper connection with my own Dad in the process. Time is precious, enjoy it with those you love and create experience that is meaningful for you and those you care about. Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers out there, I wish you joy and happiness this June 20th.
Warmest Regards,
