LINEAGE
Timeless wisdom lived through fatherhood
DAILY PRACTICE
MERAKI
Your Soul In The Act
Story
If you grew up in the '90s, you probably remember Hook were Robin Williams plays Peter Pan... except he isn't Peter Pan anymore. He's a father now. A busy lawyer always rushing somewhere.
His kids are talking to him, but he's answering emails, taking calls, thinking about work. He's there... and not really there.
I remember watching that movie as a kid and thinking Captain Hook was the villain. Watching it again as a father, I realized something different: the real danger wasn't Hook.
It was forgetting how to be present with the people who loved you most. Picture this, you finally get home and your children want to show you a drawing, tell you a story, or invite you to play.
You say yes but part of your mind is still finishing the meeting or email you left two hours ago.
You're sitting on the floor...while mentally you're somewhere else.
The Greeks have a beautiful practice called Meraki. It means doing something while leaving a piece of yourself in it. A quality of presence. Not because the task is important, because the person, the action or situation in front of you has value.
Children notice this before they have words for it. They don't remember whether you played for fifteen minutes or forty-five. They remember whether they felt they had all of you while you were there.
Shift
Your children don’t need more of your time. They need more of you inside the time you already give.
Action (Today, With Your Children)
Choose one mundane moment today. Put your phone somewhere you can't reach.
Follow your children lead for a few minutes.
No multitasking or thinking ahead.
Just be completely there.
Presence is the part of you your children keeps long after the moment is gone.
You’re receiving this as part of a daily fatherhood practice
Thank you for being here
PASS IT FORWARD
They can suscribe and obtain this daily