Daryl Wood's Blog

Sometimes I miss my dad. Today is one of those days. He never saw my home on the lake. He never got to know my husband Doug. He wasn’t at my son’s wedding in March and countless other memorable moments.

Dad passed away in 2001 after, as they say “a courageous battle with cancer”. He wrote about it and he marched on with his life in spite of it. He was a role model for me in so many ways.

My father was a leader and was once heralded as a man before his time in the field of human resources. He could be painfully insensitive to my needs as his daughter while in contrast, deliberate in his stand for justice for the people he worked with. I see some of that in me.

He was also creative and innovative and bold. I’m like that. One big difference was that Dad didn’t dwell on his mistakes very long. He lived by the motto “Let’s find one good reason why it will work” and I clearly remember his dismissal of any objections to what he believed was a good idea.

So, I’m celebrating Father’s Day because in my world this day has been designated as a day to remember. I celebrate my father on his birthday too and while backyard barbeques are in full swing for the dads still present, I am honouring the leadership my father showed me.

Because of him I am tenacious and visionary. Because of him I care deeply what happens to people and my sense of justice is keen. I’m proud of what I’ve inherited and while I can just as easily point out what I missed or didn’t get, I wouldn’t trade what I embody from watching my father carve out an intentional life.