Dear Little Ladies: Curious about Oysters
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Dear Little Ladies: Curious About Oysters
John Paul Derryberry
Dear Little Ladies:
Oh man, year four of being your dad was super-duper fun-- seeing Millie start school and Greta spread her wings with what interests her. I will remember this year for three specific things, Millie's love of long dresses, Greta sneaking comic books into her bed to look at, and the Father's Day letters you made sure I got all the way in Scotland. Scotland is a beautiful place with wonderfully friendly people. We must ensure you girls get to go there someday, even though Greta told your mom and me, "No hiking on vacation," because she gets too tired.
As you know, I write a little life lesson every year for you: something your dad learned along his travels, picked up knowledge from a friend or just watched someone repeatedly display a life skill that improves their life. It's important to realize that knowledge comes from so many places in this world: people you love, and people you agree and disagree with, people you have long, deep conversations with and people you just see in passing. Remain curious about folks, food, places, and interactions; you just might learn something about yourself along the way.
And I would love to say this bit of knowledge comes from your dad, but that would be a lie. Your mom found me as a caring, compassionate, and very passionate man. Yet, she did not find a curious man, at least not yet. So how did I add curiosity to my plate of important life skills? Well, that would be your mom. She is immensely curious about food, travel, different topics, and how and why people think the way they do. She does what is the most important thing we do as humans and everyone should do more often; she asks questions. She asks them in a way that lets you know she actually wants to hear your answer and is not just waiting for her turn to speak.
Full disclosure, the latter was a habit I had to break to evolve into a better person who better understood myself, the world, my family, my friends, and my clients. Watch your mom look up and down a menu, and never be scared of the ingredients included. Even though I have ventured far from my original taste pallets, there are certain ingredients I'm not curious about. Watch her be frustrated by a professional problem and seek counsel about how to improve and apply, the best she can, the advice she received. It's one of her best qualities.
While your mother has many amazing qualities we will discuss over the years, I started with this one for a specific reason. Curiosity about others leads to improvement in all parties involved. It's one of the few states of mind allowing growth for all included. It's also rather simple; just remember you do not have all the answers, approach situations with the idea that you can learn something, and ask some questions. It will take you to places you didn't think you would ever be, and you will gain the knowledge you didn't even know you needed. It's how I realized oysters are delicious and realized I needed your mom in my life for a long time.
Love
Your, thanks to your mom, curious father.
Lesson three: https://jpderryberry.com/blog/gothelongway
Lesson two:
https://jpderryberry.com/blog/dear-my-little-ladies-stand-on-your-own-two-feet
Lesson one: