A while ago I had an idea, it lead me to call a local organisation and leave the seed of that idea with them. I was going to chase it up later. A week passes and my dad suggested I get more involved with that idea, more “hands on”. However, for this particular idea, I did not have the confidence and necessary experience to execute it all by myself. My response was tepid and his expectations of me were seemingly high. We argued back and forth, his response was, “it can’t be very important to you” and “you want the glory without the work”. He was provoking me; I disliked the implication that I did not care for the idea or that I was lazy. Unfortunately, that battle caused us both to make mistakes for which I regret.

For my side of things, I raised my voice and failed to respond in a better way. Alone in my room I cried; for not showing enough respect, for not keeping my cool, for not having a better response and maybe for not compromising enough.

For my dad’s side, he failed to accept my rationale and reluctance. Only now do I understand him more. A part of my dad is proud of my achievements; that I got the education he did not, that I travelled where he did not and that I simply became a responsible adult. Equally, when you are proud of others, you will wish for them to have a full life and excel in the areas for which you only dream.

The lessons are simple. Sometimes we must remind ourselves of what others have achieved and that our aspirations can be too high and distract us. Instead of motivating others we sometimes push too hard. And it is also true to say, being correct does not give us the right to fight.