Thank You, Dad
For all you are and all you do, this day is about celebrating you!
Father’s Day is June 16th, and no matter the stage of life your father is in – be it young at heart, active and agile, dealing with issues that come along with aging such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, or has passed – today is about honoring the man or men in your life who have been there for you, loved you and guided you. And while many people celebrate this day with gifts and cards, we truly believe the best gift of all is spending time together. As Rick Warren so eloquently put it, “Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life.” In honor of your dad, here are 5 ways to commemorate the day, whether your dad is here to celebrate with you or not.
1. Enjoy an activity. Go out to a ball game, hit a round of golf, or engage in any other activity that you enjoy. Remember, it isn’t so much about what you are doing but that you are spending time together.
2. Dine out. Keep things easy by making reservations at Dad’s favourite restaurant. If your dad tires easily, try pre-ordering your meals so the wait isn’t as long, or if dad has passed, go to a restaurant you used to frequent together.
3. Walk down memory lane. If dad isn’t as mobile as he used to be, is easily confused or in the later stages of Alzheimer’s a quiet and relaxed day together is the way to go. Exchanging stories, looking through photo albums and saying “I love you” is the perfect way to spend the day.
4. Follow traditions. Nothing honors a parent’s memory like keeping their traditions and values alive. Be it an activity, a meal, family stories, what have you, keep them going and pass them on to the next generations.
5. Commemorate. Honor dad by having a tree planted in his name, donating a park bench or giving a charitable gift in his name for something he was passionate about. Use these places to go and remember the times you shared, reflect on life and find peace in where you are now.
No matter how you choose to celebrate the day, spend time with family, laugh together, tell your dad or father figure that you love them and keep their memory with you always.
Written by Christine Tompa for Amintro, the social app designed exclusively for those 50+ looking to create new and meaningful friendships and social circles. Sign up today at www.amintro.com.
