Lessons From Dad
@lessonsfromdad.bsky.social
I’ve been sending my kids e-mails for more than a decade with reflections and life advice. These are Lessons From Dad.
It took me awhile to wrap my head around this particular lesson. Mostly, because I continue to struggle with it myself.
December 22, 2025 at 4:06 AM
It took me awhile to wrap my head around this particular lesson. Mostly, because I continue to struggle with it myself.
The Blue Jays losing the World Series in a heartbreaking Game 7 is what led me to share this lesson with you. Losses can be painful in baseball and in life. They can feel like something approximating a punch to the mouth and sting for days, weeks, even years, though time and distance can dull this.
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The Blue Jays losing the World Series in a heartbreaking Game 7 is what led me to share this lesson with you. Losses can be painful in baseball and in life. They can feel like something approximating a punch to the mouth and sting for days, weeks, even years, though time and distance can dull this.
All human beings have needs and desires and aspirations. But unless we’re willing to name and vocalize them, then the likelihood of them being met or fulfilled is low or none at all. It’s a duty to ourselves, our potential and our happiness to ask for what we want and need in this life.
November 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
All human beings have needs and desires and aspirations. But unless we’re willing to name and vocalize them, then the likelihood of them being met or fulfilled is low or none at all. It’s a duty to ourselves, our potential and our happiness to ask for what we want and need in this life.
We remember the people who make us feel special. We remember the people who make us feel small. Today’s lesson encourages you to consider how you make others feel, and how they make you feel, through your respective actions and words.
October 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We remember the people who make us feel special. We remember the people who make us feel small. Today’s lesson encourages you to consider how you make others feel, and how they make you feel, through your respective actions and words.
Tension and discomfort, by definition, sound pretty bad. And when you reflect on how they make you feel, it usually isn’t great. But despite that, I believe we need some tension and discomfort in our lives because they often precede anything you want to achieve or an area in which you wish to grow.
October 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Tension and discomfort, by definition, sound pretty bad. And when you reflect on how they make you feel, it usually isn’t great. But despite that, I believe we need some tension and discomfort in our lives because they often precede anything you want to achieve or an area in which you wish to grow.
Everyday we’re confronted with moments where action is required of us. On many of these occasions, you’ll find yourself reflecting whether your actions were “good enough.” You’ll ask yourself: “Did I do enough?” My perspective? Whatever you have to give in a particular moment will always be enough.
October 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Everyday we’re confronted with moments where action is required of us. On many of these occasions, you’ll find yourself reflecting whether your actions were “good enough.” You’ll ask yourself: “Did I do enough?” My perspective? Whatever you have to give in a particular moment will always be enough.
Your self talk is the voice that accompanies you your entire life. In a world that can sometimes be cold and cruel and unforgiving, you’ll need that voice to be supportive, understanding and to serve as your greatest champion.
September 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Your self talk is the voice that accompanies you your entire life. In a world that can sometimes be cold and cruel and unforgiving, you’ll need that voice to be supportive, understanding and to serve as your greatest champion.
The most confident people I know weren’t born that way. They learned through repetition and experience that confidence is built over time. i believe we all have capacity to strengthen our confidence in many different facets of our lives.
September 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The most confident people I know weren’t born that way. They learned through repetition and experience that confidence is built over time. i believe we all have capacity to strengthen our confidence in many different facets of our lives.
The 60th lesson offers you a helpful approach to reflect on your feelings as a way to figure out if a big life decision makes sense for you or not. Questioning your feelings of excitement, fear and deadness, as proposed by the Harvard happiness researcher, Arthur Brooks, can be highly illuminating.
September 18, 2025 at 2:16 AM
The 60th lesson offers you a helpful approach to reflect on your feelings as a way to figure out if a big life decision makes sense for you or not. Questioning your feelings of excitement, fear and deadness, as proposed by the Harvard happiness researcher, Arthur Brooks, can be highly illuminating.
Today’s lesson is a reminder that almost every offer in life comes with a catch. That is, an aspect of what appears to be an appealing offer, that may be purposefully hidden, making it less attractive than you first thought.
September 14, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Today’s lesson is a reminder that almost every offer in life comes with a catch. That is, an aspect of what appears to be an appealing offer, that may be purposefully hidden, making it less attractive than you first thought.
What are you going to value most in old age? When you look back, what are the things in your life you’re going to wish you had invested more time and energy into? Chances are your health, family and relationships will be among those things.
September 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
What are you going to value most in old age? When you look back, what are the things in your life you’re going to wish you had invested more time and energy into? Chances are your health, family and relationships will be among those things.
When failure happens, and it will, many times in your life, ask yourself what happens next? You ought to question your worries and fears about failing. Imagine your worst case scenario, should you fail, and play it out in your mind to understand that more often than not, such fears are unwarranted.
September 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
When failure happens, and it will, many times in your life, ask yourself what happens next? You ought to question your worries and fears about failing. Imagine your worst case scenario, should you fail, and play it out in your mind to understand that more often than not, such fears are unwarranted.
As we’ve discussed before, your time is so valuable, so precious. You’ve got to take steps to manage your time and respect the time of others. I think of this as giving yourself the gift of time. When we gift ourselves time, we can plan for how we’re going to use it, enabling us to reach our goals.
September 2, 2025 at 2:34 AM
As we’ve discussed before, your time is so valuable, so precious. You’ve got to take steps to manage your time and respect the time of others. I think of this as giving yourself the gift of time. When we gift ourselves time, we can plan for how we’re going to use it, enabling us to reach our goals.
There’s a common adage that goes: “You are what you eat.” Sometimes, in my life, my relationship with food has been more like: “I eat what I feel.” Let’s unpack our complex relationships with food and consider the questions worth asking about what we put into our bodies and why we eat what we eat.
August 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
There’s a common adage that goes: “You are what you eat.” Sometimes, in my life, my relationship with food has been more like: “I eat what I feel.” Let’s unpack our complex relationships with food and consider the questions worth asking about what we put into our bodies and why we eat what we eat.
Partners, jobs and friends aren’t ever going to be perfect and neither are you. But that doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on what makes for great versions of these contributors to our life’s satisfaction. Consider your table stakes for a great friend or job or partner. Then, go out and find them.
August 26, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Partners, jobs and friends aren’t ever going to be perfect and neither are you. But that doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on what makes for great versions of these contributors to our life’s satisfaction. Consider your table stakes for a great friend or job or partner. Then, go out and find them.
It can be so hard getting started, sometimes! And yet, if you can get past “Day 1”, you can unleash and leverage real momentum that builds and can help you get to the finish line on some tough tasks. Even one minute of action can set you on a path to proving to yourself that anything is possible.
August 21, 2025 at 2:58 AM
It can be so hard getting started, sometimes! And yet, if you can get past “Day 1”, you can unleash and leverage real momentum that builds and can help you get to the finish line on some tough tasks. Even one minute of action can set you on a path to proving to yourself that anything is possible.
Our brains can sometimes fill with worries and we need to manage our unhelpful thoughts. That’s where laser-focusing on actions you can take in the next hour can be effective. Putting your concerns aside to focus on something that’s right in front of you might just be what you need to move forward.
August 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Our brains can sometimes fill with worries and we need to manage our unhelpful thoughts. That’s where laser-focusing on actions you can take in the next hour can be effective. Putting your concerns aside to focus on something that’s right in front of you might just be what you need to move forward.
Cleaning up after yourself can be a surprising source of joy. We shouldn’t expect others to do it for us and when we’re feeling frustrated about cleaning messes of our own making, it can sometimes help to remind ourselves that a clean space can lead to clearer thinking and a more positive outlook.
August 11, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Cleaning up after yourself can be a surprising source of joy. We shouldn’t expect others to do it for us and when we’re feeling frustrated about cleaning messes of our own making, it can sometimes help to remind ourselves that a clean space can lead to clearer thinking and a more positive outlook.
The 50th lesson might make some people uncomfortable but talking about death and dying can offer us valuable insights into living a fulfilling life. Death reminds us how precious and fragile our existence truly is. We shouldn’t fixate on it but reflecting on death can make clear what truly matters.
August 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The 50th lesson might make some people uncomfortable but talking about death and dying can offer us valuable insights into living a fulfilling life. Death reminds us how precious and fragile our existence truly is. We shouldn’t fixate on it but reflecting on death can make clear what truly matters.
There are some tasks that demand your very best and others that just need to get done. Today’s lesson is from my Mom who understood perfect is sometimes the enemy of completion, and sometimes you just need to get the piece of paper.
August 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM
There are some tasks that demand your very best and others that just need to get done. Today’s lesson is from my Mom who understood perfect is sometimes the enemy of completion, and sometimes you just need to get the piece of paper.
Let’s talk about the stuff in life that delivers immediate gratification. I can’t say which to avoid or which to welcome but I can ask you consider how these things make you feel, especially, after you consume them. You need to recognize their holistic impact(s) on your mind, body & quality of life.
August 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Let’s talk about the stuff in life that delivers immediate gratification. I can’t say which to avoid or which to welcome but I can ask you consider how these things make you feel, especially, after you consume them. You need to recognize their holistic impact(s) on your mind, body & quality of life.
You’re going to feel scared. Angry or worried, too. And that’s okay. Don’t let anyone tell you to toss aside those feelings. Sometimes you’ll just need to sit with them. Acknowledge them. Talk through them with someone you trust. They’re part of your humanity. And there’s really no avoiding it.
August 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
You’re going to feel scared. Angry or worried, too. And that’s okay. Don’t let anyone tell you to toss aside those feelings. Sometimes you’ll just need to sit with them. Acknowledge them. Talk through them with someone you trust. They’re part of your humanity. And there’s really no avoiding it.
Technology is amazing enabling connections with people around the world, seamlessly. But connecting with people, in person, has value too. When you connect with someone across a desk or dinner table, give them your undivided attention by putting your smartphone out of sight. It makes a difference!
July 31, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Technology is amazing enabling connections with people around the world, seamlessly. But connecting with people, in person, has value too. When you connect with someone across a desk or dinner table, give them your undivided attention by putting your smartphone out of sight. It makes a difference!
Most things that will happen to you in your life will have no larger meaning or purpose. We’re the only ones who can define meaning or purpose for ourselves. You aren’t fixed so these can and will change over time. And remind yourself, no one’s purpose is predetermined. Your future is unwritten.
July 28, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Most things that will happen to you in your life will have no larger meaning or purpose. We’re the only ones who can define meaning or purpose for ourselves. You aren’t fixed so these can and will change over time. And remind yourself, no one’s purpose is predetermined. Your future is unwritten.
Our choices belong to us and no one else. And we don’t control other people’s choices, nor should we. Let’s explore how empowering it can be to let go of this illusion and embrace the mindset of focusing in on our own actions. Maybe it can help us to worry a little less and enjoy life a little more.
July 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Our choices belong to us and no one else. And we don’t control other people’s choices, nor should we. Let’s explore how empowering it can be to let go of this illusion and embrace the mindset of focusing in on our own actions. Maybe it can help us to worry a little less and enjoy life a little more.