Sunshine and Olly

by Jonathan Blaustein

Children crave affection, attention and guidance.

It’s a form of food, otherwise known as love.

That’s right: love is not an emotion, primarily.

It’s a behavior.

We show love, we give love, we act love.

We care, we support, we ask questions, we hug, we listen, we help.

When we do wrong, we fix it.

We apologize.

We grow.

We accept responsibility for our behavior, and endeavor to do better next time.

By loving, we become our best selves.

(That’s the idea, anyway.)

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Keeping it short today, because I wanted to write, but don’t have a lot of time.

My son Theo, who’s 16.5, has an appointment this morning for his driving test.

He’s had a learners-permit license since Winter, and has been practicing his butt off.

Luckily, he’s conscientious, mature, and wicked smart, so he’s been driving well for months.

So well, I let him drive our fancy car through the Rocky Mountains on Saturday.

Twice!

Meaning, we had to cross them to get to the Eastern side, and then to come back. Two super-difficult mountain pass drives.

It’s both fun and challenging, and normally, I would have done some of the driving myself.

But I knew how much it would mean to him.

Having the adventure.

Proving himself.

I gave up a little pleasure of my own, so he could have an experience we’d remember forever.

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Seeing him happy made me happy anyway.

Like this morning.

Knowing I’ll be there for him, offering support on the drive in, while he’s nervous.

Knowing I’ll be there to give him a huge smile, and a big hug, when he emerges successful.

When he has that piece of paper that children (in the “developed” world) look forward to their entire lives.

I don’t just say “I love you,” and then act however I want, without consequences.

I prioritize my life to be there for him, and his sister.

To always hold myself to the highest standards.

And when I fail, I apologize.

Work harder to get it right next time.

Because love, in its true form, is an act of service to the people (or animals) we care most about.

It involves massive amounts of life juice, (chi,) to be there for someone. To listen to their hurts, offer empathy, and then guidance, when the mind and heart are ready to receive.

I “love” my wife and children so much, it gives my life meaning to treat them with this kind of love.

Something to think about…