Two years ago, I watched my son struggle with finding his friends, self-image, self-acceptance, and purpose. Many kids his age go through that. I remember going through that too. Do you?
I asked him to read a long-form book with me called “Storyteller” by Dave Grohl, from the Foo Fighters and Nirvana. No listening to books on tape! Really reading, savoring, and discussing! He took the challenge, and we spent months reading and discovering things over breakfast before school.
I saw many parallels in Dave’s story and G’s. Our big takeaway: In order to be a storyteller, you have to have a story to tell!
With curiosity as our guide and wonderment in our hearts, we decided we wanted to take a bigger part in our own story by actively writing it by participating in our own lives daily. We limited screens and couch time and we started to eat better 🥬, joined a gym 🏋🏾♂️, joined a team 🏈, played in bands 🎸 and 🎺, started running 🏃🏿♂️, biking 🚴♀️ trails, and hiking ⛰️ mountains. We also started a business, learned more about money and giving, and volunteered our time to help people. We decided that we would one day go see the Storyteller himself in person!
And this week, joined by my cousins in Denver, we did just that! My son was ecstatic. 🤩 The show was electric… Dave said it was their biggest rock show in the States… EVER. At one point, Dave stopped the show and serenaded the crowd with a song called “One of These Days”… It is reportedly his most favorite song he ever wrote. In it, he sings:
“One of these days, the ground will drop out from beneath your feet.
One of these days, your heart will stop and play its final beat.”
“And it will be alright, everything will be alright.”
“It will be alright, everything will be alright…”
Hmmmmmm 😭
As an older dad, I know that day will come for me sooner rather than later. All we can wish as parents is to give our kids a good push into the world. And for it to be alright for them when life is a challenge, and we are with them but in a different form.
So we have started our “Foo-to-Foo World Tour 2024” just a few short days ago! It started in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to see cousins and aunts and to play. Our plan is to hike, run, eat, camp, sing, shop, laugh, cry, talk, raft, rock and roll all the way back to Washington State… Just in time… To see the Storyteller himself take the stage one last time this year, at Lumen Field, in Seattle, Washington on August 18th! All my son’s adopted uncles will be there. And we will too!
Remembering as we wind back through the Rocky Mountains listening to Dave’s music in our camper van… That you have to have a story to tell, in order to be a great storyteller! And when that day does come for all of us… Our kids will be alright. Yes, they will be alright.
Bring your earplugs, Seattle, because as Dave said in Denver… “I am here to rock your mother f’ing faces off!!!!!”
Let’s go!!!! Pick up a pen! What’s your story!? Because everybody has a story to tell!
See you at Lumen! The story continues!
-G’s dad
#foofighters #boydad #oneofthesedays #rockymountainhigh #itwillbealright #adventure #letsgo #davegrohl
Don O'Neill
When Don is not behind a microphone, you might find him helping clients shop for properties to buy, invest, or sell. As an active investor, Don seeks out properties for long term investments. Schedule Your Sit Don with Ron today!