I got asked if my father was a strong dude because of my quick progress.

And it bothered me.

I get the person didn't know my past.

I told him who my father was and he stepped away after saying I I must be lying.

Different family names and visually different race.

Then he paused thinking and remembering things and he apologized for bringing up my father.

He said he is sorry. And we pretended it was never brought up.

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HikingMan · 51-55, M

It’s odd when people you know or maybe respect bring up your parents in relation to your accomplishments as if it couldn’t have ever been In Spite of Them.

Maybe the best response would have been
“ No. But I overcame that and I progressed even quicker in spite of it.”

You are worthy of praise without riders attached to other beings.

Like I told my hockey kids that I coached…

“What you do and what you accomplish is only because of you. Because we all have both good and bad influences and only we ourselves define where we end up. If you do your best you’ll be your best.”

I said that every season for 17 seasons after seeing the way parents squirmed the first time I said it all those many years ears ago.
I knew it to be true as I watched other parents squirm every single year after that.
The first time I said it was 20 years ago.

That was a speech I made to 7-16 year olds year after year. But it hits hard and even I cringe at myself sometimes.

You’re you, Miram. All on your own and because of your own actions in the face of what you’ve seen and experienced. I hope you are proud and work to make yourself prouder everyday.

Be well.