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Abstract

erything</h1>I vividly remember it. I believe I was about eight years old, and I was reading something when I came across a word I didn’t know what it meant. So I asked my dad what it meant. (Aren’t parents supposed to know everything?) He told me to get the dictionary. Then he proceeded to teach me how to look up a word in a dictionary. We found the word and its meaning.I can’t remember for the life of me what that word was, but I knew that if I ever needed to know what a word meant, all I’d have to do is look it up. These days my son tells me to Google it when I ask him about something. (Some lessons we have to keep learning again and again.)Because of that one experience, today, I am not embarrassed to accept if I don’t know something when asked. It has made me a better parent and a better leader. I know I can find the answer or help others find it for themselves.<h1 id="f0fa">2. Problem-solving is fun</h1>Once, as a child, I asked him how old he was. Instead of giving me a straight answer, he said something like, “I’ll be six times as old as you are right now in two years.” That was easy. I multiplied my age by six and subtracted two from it and told him how old he was. We spent the next half an hour or so having fun as he created more problems for me to solve.As I look back, I am amazed at how easily he could come up with complicated algebraic problems, given he barely had a ninth-grade education. I didn’t even know that he was teaching me algebra at the age of eight.Today I enjoy solving problems of all sorts. Everything from business challenges to jigsaw puzzles. I know that if I can think, I can solve a problem. Somet

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imes it takes longer than others, and sometimes I need to ask for help. But it is always fun.<h1 id="6804">3. Don’t accept everything you hear.</h1>Religious discussions were frequent at the dinner table in our home. On one occasion, I shared what I had heard in the “sermon” earlier in the evening, a verse of devotional poetry, which was commonly interpreted as the virtue of having Blind Faith.My dad immediately quoted another verse that said that you must first test your beliefs before committing to a “loving and unconditional” devotion. He then related a story from his childhood about how that particular verse came to be the foundation of his beliefs. He also clarified how the phrase that is interpreted as blind faith means pure or sincere devotion.Later in life, I faced a situation that had me question the value of continuing to go on living. I challenged God to show me an answer to my dilemma. Amazingly, I found a simple solution that worked. I went on to pass the wisdom to my children.There were many other lessons. I learned about loving your spouse, respecting women, innovation and thinking out of the box, and much more. These are some thoughts I have as I think of him on his birthday.Feel free to share the lessons you learned from your dad/mom.Before you go…You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself. If you agree, you’ll like my free weekly emails. Get it here… <a href="https://misterweirdo.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=33bzb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy">Freedom Lifestyle</a></article></body>

3 Life Lessons I Learned From My Awesome Dad

Honoring my dad on his birthday

Today is my dad’s birthday. He would have been 103 if he was still alive. He was an awesome dad. At least he was to me. But, aren’t all dads awesome? (hoping my kids will agree)

He passed away in 1991 just a few weeks shy of his 75th birthday.

It’s been more years since his passing than I had the privilege to spend with him. I was 19, and he was 47 when I left Pakistan for the United States to attend college. I never returned except to attend his funeral.

But I have no regrets. In 1984, I wrote a letter to him and my mom, in which I expressed my heartfelt gratitude for my upbringing and for providing me with a foundation on which I can build a happy and successful life.

For the most part, I am happy, and I consider myself successful. I am not sure if he would agree with my definition of success. But, he might. After all, it is based on the principles I learned from him.

From the author’s personal collection. Photographer unknown

Here are the top three Life Lessons I learned from my dad.

1. It’s okay not to know everything

I vividly remember it. I believe I was about eight years old, and I was reading something when I came across a word I didn’t know what it meant. So I asked my dad what it meant. (Aren’t parents supposed to know everything?) He told me to get the dictionary. Then he proceeded to teach me how to look up a word in a dictionary. We found the word and its meaning.

I can’t remember for the life of me what that word was, but I knew that if I ever needed to know what a word meant, all I’d have to do is look it up. These days my son tells me to Google it when I ask him about something. (Some lessons we have to keep learning again and again.)

Because of that one experience, today, I am not embarrassed to accept if I don’t know something when asked. It has made me a better parent and a better leader. I know I can find the answer or help others find it for themselves.

2. Problem-solving is fun

Once, as a child, I asked him how old he was. Instead of giving me a straight answer, he said something like, “I’ll be six times as old as you are right now in two years.” That was easy. I multiplied my age by six and subtracted two from it and told him how old he was. We spent the next half an hour or so having fun as he created more problems for me to solve.

As I look back, I am amazed at how easily he could come up with complicated algebraic problems, given he barely had a ninth-grade education. I didn’t even know that he was teaching me algebra at the age of eight.

Today I enjoy solving problems of all sorts. Everything from business challenges to jigsaw puzzles. I know that if I can think, I can solve a problem. Sometimes it takes longer than others, and sometimes I need to ask for help. But it is always fun.

3. Don’t accept everything you hear.

Religious discussions were frequent at the dinner table in our home. On one occasion, I shared what I had heard in the “sermon” earlier in the evening, a verse of devotional poetry, which was commonly interpreted as the virtue of having Blind Faith.

My dad immediately quoted another verse that said that you must first test your beliefs before committing to a “loving and unconditional” devotion. He then related a story from his childhood about how that particular verse came to be the foundation of his beliefs. He also clarified how the phrase that is interpreted as blind faith means pure or sincere devotion.

Later in life, I faced a situation that had me question the value of continuing to go on living. I challenged God to show me an answer to my dilemma. Amazingly, I found a simple solution that worked. I went on to pass the wisdom to my children.

There were many other lessons. I learned about loving your spouse, respecting women, innovation and thinking out of the box, and much more. These are some thoughts I have as I think of him on his birthday.

Feel free to share the lessons you learned from your dad/mom.

Before you go…

You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself. If you agree, you’ll like my free weekly emails. Get it here… Freedom Lifestyle