3 Comments

I'm not a dad so I stay away from giving dad's advice. But I always listen when dad advice is given because I hope to be a dad someday. The piece of advice here is excellent. By just jotting down things you notice, feel, think, want to tell your future self or your child in the future is an amazing way to keep memories, relive moments, and share wisdom.

Expand full comment

The piece of advice I give all new dads, based on the need to avoid back pain and to let your kid cry from time to time, is strengthen your core and harden your heart.

But the notebook's a good idea too.

Expand full comment

100%. Getting familiar with mindful observation is maybe the only grounding technique that has worked for me—and that’s before somatic therapy approaches showed up and massively supported that with anecdotes, research, and more methods and resources than you can actually use. I came to a phenomenological observation practice through teacher-training PD; I don’t practice every day, but when I do, the beneficial effects last through the hard times.

Having Humanities degrees (especially in language and literature) has also come in handy in identifying patterns in thoughts and words and interpreting the chaotic pastiche of consciousness and reality. Glad there’s finally a payoff!

Expand full comment