I turned 70 this spring. Losing my dad at the age of 13 gave me a burning desire to grow old and be present with my own children, but also showed me that life is merely a breath and can end at any moment. With that knowledge in mind, I approached marriage, parenting, and life with an attitude that I would not just live but live with intention.
When my children were small, that looked like small consistent presence in their lives. Despite founding and running companies throughout their childhood, I did my best to love their mother well and out loud, attend every event that mattered to them (no matter how big or small), and plant the seeds that would grow into a faith relationship for each of my children.
Now, as I look at each of them, married with children of their own, I see how those small intentional steps led to a life I can be proud of – a long obedience in the same direction.
So what did I do?
I prioritized my relationship with their mother. I know that I married way out of my league. A driven, successful woman who holds a PhD and has invested in the lives of thousands of children over the last 50 years, my wife is a force. It would have been easy to let our strong personalities overpower our family and our marriage. I recognized the strength, passion, and light my wife brought to our marriage, and I encouraged her to shine. I wasn’t perfect, but I was teachable, and I was intentional in seeking out mentors, counselors, and wise voices to help make me a better husband to the woman I committed to spending my life with. This, along with my personal faith walk, has mattered more than anything else I modeled to my children.
I was present. I couldn’t be a good husband and father if I was gone. I needed to be home – even when this meant flying from the east to the west coast every few days while building my first seven figure business.
I took care of myself. I had to prioritize my health. I did not want my wife or children to experience the pain our family felt when I lost my dad. Juicing, eating well, exercising, and thinking positive were just some of the ways I ensured longevity for my family. My wife and I have always said we aren’t letting old people move into our bodies. At 70, I can proudly say it hasn’t happened yet.
You might not be 70, heck you might not even be 35 when you’re reading this. But you do have goals for the future. What are you doing today that will help you reach those goals? And if you don’t have goals, well I can help you with that! After all, I wrote the book on Clarity!
