Ying and Yang

We are flying out to see you this week.

There is a really interesting dynamic that happens between mom and I when these trips are planned. I have never been encumbered by the thought that I am not needed, wanted, or that my presence will not immediate shine light, happiness, and fix everything. Mom, on the other hand is much more introspective about these things. She always extends the courtesy of trying to understand what the need is and how the timing works for what is going on in your life. I have always had a deep appreciation for her doing this. It is a tremendous expression of faith in both of you and your ability to balance all the things that are going on in your life.

Ying and Yang translates into shadow and light. It is how seemingly opposite and contrary things are interdependent on each other and how they interact to make a greater whole. It is why if you talk to one of us more than another it will start to seem like giant pain in the ass. Without the contrast of light and shadow it is hard as hell to appreciate the depth of any one thing. Light and shadow give things their depth.

This is life lesson stuff. There are times when charging into the fray is the perfect thing to do. Making sure there is actual fray that needs to be charged into is an important life skill. Creating a fray (when there was not one prior to your arrival) is time consuming, hard on everyone, and depletes your key resources for no good reason.

Over the years your mom has given me a real appreciation for Ying and Yang. I am better at being able to see the depth of things that are outside of my immediate life experience. And as much as I love to charge headlong into the fray, I chose which ones to charge into instead of having them choose me.

Love Dad