Reading the title, I immediately thought of the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.



And I'm not religious and this isn't a BARF post. You say 3 men and who do you think of?

...oh, right, Manny, Moe and Jack, 3 stooges and others.

Yeah, go talk to them — for yourself.

You might want to watch a movie called The Five People you Meet in Heaven.
It was based on a novel written by Mitch Albom many years ago, I believe
it was a Hallmark hall of fame movie. It follows the life and death of a man
named Eddie who is killed and sent to heaven where he encounters 5 people
who had a significant impact on his life. Stars Jon Voight as the lead character.
It was on netflix many years ago in 2 parts. Watch the 2 parts together or it
might not make sense. You might be able to stream it from another source as
well. The ending ties it all together and speaks directly to your wishes to
communicate with your friends. A good movie to watch once a year as a reminder
on how our lives impact others.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
-Mark Twain

I think it's important to let others know when they've had a positive influence. I'm always appreciative of others when they share their successes with me and state that I helped them somehow.

I don't think the conversation has to be hard at all.

Invite them for lunch/coffee and just go out to spend time with them. Catch up on what's been going on with life.

Reminisce a bit. "Remember that crazy time when....?" and follow up after discussion with "What you taught me then was.....and I really appreciate it. I used that later when....".

You might depress them if they think they are to blame for the way you are now.
1 star for whining

I talked to Fred today. Basically it was a lot of catching up on what we've been doing for the past 30 years.
I said, "I just wanted to thank you for all you taught me. It's been a good life and the lessons I learned from you really helped."
He said, "Thanks. I knew you were going places. I'm happy for you."
He's almost blind now from macular degeneration. He doesn't get out much, so I'm going to see him and hang out. He lives about an hour away. Probably just BS with each other for a while. I couldn't express to him how deeply he affected my outlook on life. I don't know how to without it sounding sappy and melodramatic, but I feel good about going to hang out and just be together and talk baseball or something.
Did I mention that I'm not a people person?

Who would have thought?
Its good to honor those who are our spiritual fathers and mentors. The best way to do it is to pay it forward. Go teach someone else even if they are young and foolish. The guys you are talking about had to put up with you.

I strongly recommend doing it. Life's too short to keep something so positive to yourself. People like your three mentors above give their IP away freely and never expect anything in return. They are selflessly giving a gift, you should thank them.

Well done, wd.

I think we all have had folks like them in our lives, and can all remember a few with whom we have waited too long. Sometimes that person is even a parent. We tend to regret the things we left unsaid. As we get older, and experience that more and more, I think most of us eventually resolve to proactively do something about it with those whom we have left.

Women are far better at this than men. They "wear their emotions on their sleeves", where guys - at least of our generation - were taught not to do so. That makes it awkward for us, both giving and receiving. It's worth fumbling our way through this, though. For both sides.

So, one down, two to go - good on you, Patrick. Keep after it - it's worth it.

What a timely thread.

I'll be having such a conversation next week when I visit my father in law in Baton Rouge. At 88 years old he is, in the finest sense of the term, a true southern gentleman. I doubt he knows what a profoundly positive impact he's had on my life.

Shame on me if I don't tell him before it's too late.

_

If you don't do it now, a year away may be too late...

I took a few philosophy classes back in college. One of the professors was the absolute caricature of the nutty, disheveled and absent-minded old philospher whose office was essentially a mound of papers and books surrounding a form-fitting, over-stuffed leather armchair just like you'd imagine. His desk was also somewhere in there I assume.

He was the funniest, kindest old guy who for some unknown reason latched on to one of my stoopid essays and invited me to his office. Why, to this day, I haven't a clue.

Anyways, we just chatted about wild mushrooms, space travel and how so sadly we are surrounded by idiots. What I eventually figured out was that he was trying to show me how to see life with a broader perspective.

And life moved us both on.

One day years later I went back to his office to affirm the inevitable; that he had long passed. Beneath a plaque in his honor are the words:

'You're welcome.'