Today, I want to share with y’all a very special conversation I had with my dad. As we sat together, he opened up with such meaningful reflections on life, and I felt a deep need to pass on his wise advice.
My dad is 66 years old, though you’d never guess it by looking at him. He’s active, strong, and full of energy. Just recently, he was out playing basketball with us and pulled a m*ú-s-c-l-e. But here’s the thing — even after that, we still got together for a full-family pool volleyball match.
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“You know,” he told me, “age is just a number. What matters is staying active. If you don’t use it, you lose it.” My dad exercises for about an hour every single day. When I asked him what his secret was, he smiled and said, “Keep moving, stand up straight, take care of your body. The older you get, the more you’ve got to look after yourself.”
One thing that truly surprised me is that my dad doesn’t take any medication. Whenever he goes for a check-up and the doctor asks if he’s on anything, he always answers, “Nope, nothing.” He’s proud of the fact that our whole family is generally in good health, and he’s determined to keep it that way.
But it was when he started talking about family that his words really hit my heart.
When I asked him how it felt to have so many grandkids, he looked at me with honesty and said, “I never thought I’d have this many.” Then with a proud smile and teary eyes, he added, “But I feel blessed. All of you are still here. Still with me.”
He reflected on our recent family vacation: “We spent four full days together, and you know what the best part was? Not a single argument. Everyone got along. We laughed. We loved. That’s what I treasure most.”
And then he said something that left me speechless:
“My children, forgive your parents for the mistakes they made. We’re human. We messed up when we were young. But don’t carry that burden forever. Let it go. Forgive. And keep loving.”
I could feel the truth and raw emotion in every word.
He went on:
“I may have regrets in my life, but what matters is that family’s still here. Still by my side. Never walk away from your family.”
When we talked about the future, he said something beautiful:
“I feel at peace being with the grandkids. They understand me, and I understand them. That’s the best part about growing old.”
And finally, his voice softened as he reminded us:
“Family is everything. No matter the hardships, no matter the mistakes — stay connected. Forgive. Keep loving. And take care of your health so we can all be together for as long as possible.”
Hearing my father speak like that, I realized — these lessons aren’t just for our family. They’re for everyone. My dad may be a simple man, but he is full of quiet wisdom. And I’m so grateful I get to share his words with y’all.
That’s why I want to make more videos with my dad — not for the food, but for the life lessons he brings with him.
I hope some of his reflections speak to you too.
