Happy Father's Day!

This is what I like about photographs.
They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.
Jodi Picoult

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections are all about me sharing whatever is on my mind, and it's seldom business related. Today is Father's Day, and sharing a four-generation shot from so long ago seems appropriate.

I know I promised not to keep using the Jodi Picoult quote, but there isn't a better one for photographs like this. I've used her quote so often that I recently contacted her publicist to see if we could get her on a podcast! 

The shot above is me, my son, my Dad, and my grandson, who was totally new to the world. He was the first grandchild and great-grandchild on either side of the family: four generations and one of my most favorite old photographs. My grandson is in college, and my Dad passed away in 2015.  

My point today is in three parts...

First, the value of old photographs is in the memories they bring back. Those memories are the reason you rarely see me miss a Throwback Thursday. I don't live in the past, but those quick looks in the rearview mirror help me focus more on what's ahead. That look back puts a smile on my face, and it doesn't matter how bittersweet it might be.

The second is about the definition of the word bittersweet. Sad things happen in families, and my son and daughter are no longer part of my life, but that doesn't change the fact that I'll always be their father. And nothing takes away from the fun of looking back to days when things weren't so complicated or hoping that something changes in the future. 

Third, this is the perfect time to wish all of you Dads out there a Happy Father's Day! The holiday has become way too commercial, and while it's been supported and promoted by retail and the greeting card industry, here's the original origin:

Father's Day originated in the US after the daughter of a Civil War veteran, Sonora Smart Dodd, wanted to pay an ode to all fathers across the globe. It is believed that she took inspiration from Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day...She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which was emerging as a holiday. Google Search

So, Happy Father's Day, you guys! When I was twelve, and somebody asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered, "A Dad!" Nothing changes the fun of looking back on those days or watching your kids grow up. And while we can never stop time or turn back the clock, we can learn to better appreciate every minute of the day going forward.

Make it a day to remember. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you love the most, and pat yourself on the back for being a Dad. 

Happy Father's Day!