A big happy birthday to my Dad, today.  he’s getting old.  Dad has had a rough year.  He’s been laid off from his job, the crapping economy has made it harder to find one with hiring freezes and the like, he doesn’t have a car because it broke down (on the last week at his job), his brother’s and sister’s and mother’s health have been poor, his investments have tanked, and just general boredom sitting at home without much to do except look for a job.  but my father, one thing about him that he has better then anybody i know is poise.  he’s always so composed.  i never understood it, and i never asked him how he does it (cause he probably couldn’t explain it to me) but i’ve always admired that about him.  he just laughs things off like its no big deal.  when he got hit by a drunk driver 20 years ago while riding his bike home from a long shift at work, he was seriously messed up.  he still gets really bad headaches because of it.  he never complained about it, never asked for any handouts, he just continued moving with poise and strength for his family. i can’t even imagine the backbreaking labour on the farms in the blistering hot sun with little to eat except a bowl of rice.  it boggles my mind.  and yet that was his reality for years.

poise, its an amazing thing.  maintain it, especially if you are a man.  its your duty to be strong for the people you care about.  its your duty to be poised for yourself.  but as i like to say, if you stumble, its ok.  just try your best.