The TriDad Life

Dear Beanpod,

We’re closing in on 3 weeks since you’ve arrived. We all are in the midst of a daily experiment to try to get used to this new life – you included!

When I look at you, I can’t imagine how strange everything must seem. In your waking moments, I can see your eyes feverishly exploring your surroundings. You move your body as much as you can, not knowing yet the purpose of your extremities, but knowing that they are there and they are part of YOU, whatever it is that YOU might be.

You’re trying to make sense of yourself and the world around you.

I want to talk to you about that for a moment, that effort to make sense of yourself and the world around you. You see, it’s something that is pretty much a constant in life. Even after you learn how to use your legs, how to talk, and especially when you learn to interact with other human beings, you will find out that you are ALWAYS trying to make sense of what is going on in this world.

Recently becoming your Dad has really made me ponder my worldview. There are so many contradictions in this world. It truly is a beautiful place, until it isn’t. A few days after your birth, a horrific terrorist attack occurred in Israel, a place your father once visited and has friends, taking the lives of thousands of innocent civilians in a matter of hours. There will be no peace in the near future for those that remain.

Watching the coverage unfold over the last few weeks while holding you here in my arms made feel many things. Gratitude, knowing that the threat is far from you. Sadness, knowing that some fathers will be experiencing grief beyond measure even as you are safely here in my care. Fear, thinking about the countless threats that might exist out there for you in this world as you get older.

Some might say that this is a dramatic example of the threats that exist in our world. But they are everywhere, all the time. I fear for your future, I want to protect you.

But then again, this is not the whole story. Threats abound, but so does compassion. A small minority of people out there would do you harm. Most will be on the same journey you are – trying to make sense of the world around them and to do their best.

I know this pretty well. When your Dad was a younger man, the people of this world were a constant inspiration. He was captivated by the unknown around the corner more than threatened by it.

The pull of the world was so strong that I spent most of my twenties exploring the furthest reaches of it that I could. I lived in China, traveled on motorcycles in Vietnam, ventured to Australia, took a junket to Israel, slept in a broom closet in Russia, and many other countless adventures over the years that bring a smile to my face when I recall them.

In all these travels, I was almost always encountered with welcoming faces and gracious hosts. My curiosity was met by strangers that quickly became friends. My faith in people was rewarded in wonderful, formative experiences.

It’s certainly true that at any point in this journey, things could have gone horribly wrong. But I don’t think we can live our life with a mindset that prevents us from exploration.

I think now that I’m your Dad, I will constantly be trying to find the balance between doing enough to protect you while letting you venture into the unknown, wherever your journey might take you. I can’t hold you back.

As you grow up in this world, I will do whatever I can to protect you. But more than that, I want you to keep your faith in people, despite all of the contrary evidence that might pile up on the news. After all, it is this faith in people that opens doors, making life exciting, spontaneous and meaningful.

I’m excited to support your endeavors in this world, beanpod. I hope for you to have the best journey imaginable. This world really is a beautiful place.

Love,

Dad