Sunday Jack...A tribute to Fathers

Today being fathers day, it's the perfect time to look at the relationship between Jack and his father Capt. Teague, who is played by Rolling Stones guitarist Kieth Richards.

There is a particular dialog that is one of my favorites in all of the movies.  It occurs in Pirates 3 after the Brethern Court.  (If you haven't seen the Pirates movies it's ok, just go with it.)  Jack approaches his father and says,

"What..you've seen it all, done it all,..you survived.  That's the trick isn't it? To survive?"

Capt Teague replies, "It's not just about living forever Jacky.  It's about living with yourself forever."



There isn't much better advice a father could give his son.  In our own busy lives there is so much to think about that is happening in the moment.  Many worthy activities consume our days: work, school, kids, social engagements, groceries, laundry, boy scouts, ballgames, simply surviving....the list goes on and on.  As does time, it stops for no man.  I get a kick out of many ways that people use to try to turn back the hands of time: surgery, make up, hair replacement or dye, the search for a younger companion, or simply behaving like an adolecent.  That's another list that goes on and on and I may have been guilty of a few myself.  It doesn't work.  You can never retrieve the time that has passed.

It boils down to this, there is no fountain of youth.  We all get to die.  At what point do we take stock of what we have done on this earth.  On our deathbeds?  Every New Year?  I hope not.  Taking stock of our lives should be a daily ritual.  A good question to ask is, "If I left this world tonite, could I live with myself forever?"  Some days I pass this test, some days I don't. 

Life it a compilation of many days and if daily you can say that you have done the best you can for others, your family and yourself, over all, life will have had meaning and a positive impact. You can live with yourself for the choices you have made.  Our naturally selfish nature will have been replaced by one forged in helping humanity.  Learn from the past, enjoy the present, and make meaningful choices for the future. 

Each persons definition of success in this will be different, but with applied focus it will move to a higher and grander plane.  It did for Jack, ultimately in the end of the movie he sacrifices his sure way to live forever on this earth when he was holding it right in the palms of his hands.  He gives it to a friend to save his life.

So here's to fathers everywhere, for what they teach us and the example they set.  If yours isn't a positive one, honor someone who is.  My Dad is wonderful and I love him so much.  Happy Father's day Dad.