chip's thoughts on fatherhood

A parent is someone who every child models themselves off of. Either they want to be the same or the opposite. In most cases it is a combination or more likely a rejection as a teenager with acceptance at 30 and then idolization after children. This is what my father was to me. A nutball and a hero.

Fatherhood is about mentoring and being a model for children to grow into. It is about patience and listening and not getting wrapped up in the emotion that naturally occurs.

My relationship to my dad is excellent. We both change as we age so we both know life is short and our relationship with each other is the most important there is. I love the relationship and learning that my children get from a more mature, mellow grandfather. Their relationship inspires me to be a granddad (some day).

We did not invent the manifesto together but many of the sayings originated with my dad. Most notably anything to do with living in the moment. He always said the meaning of life is in the moment and nothing else.

meet dennis

I recently arrived home from a week-long vacation out west, visiting both sets of grandparents. As you can imagine, I was treated to all sorts of special things - dinners out and shopping trips, among other activities.

On one particular lunch date, I sat down and started the often-difficult task of deciding what I was going to order.

A particular dish immediately caught my eye: the Kitsilano Sandwich. It sounded like a yummy option – chicken breast with melted sharp cheddar, asparagus and seasoning, wrapped in warm naan bread. For more than its taste, I loved the name.

Kitsilano has a special place in many a lululemon educator’s heart. The small community was the location of the first lululemon store, just over a decade ago. It was the place where this very special company began.

For fun, I thought, what the hell! An ode to lululemon. I’ll have the Kitsilano Sandwich. I never thought any more of it.

Several days later, for some reason, the Kitsilano Sandwich crossed my mind once again. It reminded me of one of my two-year goals: to be living in Vancouver, working at the lululemon Store Support Centre.

As I thought more and more about my sandwich, I began to realize how choices in our daily lives can contribute to achieving our goals.

Even though that goal was not to be achieved for more than another 700 days, the point is, I was already thinking about moving to Vancouver, and it was hanging out in my conscious mind.

If we were to treat every single goal this way, always top of mind, what opportunities would present themselves simply from awareness?

Perhaps my sandwich is an extreme example – but I think the point is clear. Your conscious thoughts can translate into real-life opportunities, if you make them. I chose to choose that sandwich.

For those of you who were wondering – my sandwich was absolutely amazing – and the day I become a citizen of Vancouver, I will think back to the little sandwich that started it all.