Looking Back
On the eve of Father’s Day, Jason Baker reflects on family, forgiveness and the relationships that shape our lives.
As I look back over the 54 years of my life, I ponder the accomplishments I am most proud of. Yes, there are professional milestones, awards won and watching past or present employees thrive. But what I am most proud of is being a parent. Three completely different children whom I get to watch build lives of their own and experience the wonders of the journey.
Unfortunately, I lost two fathers along my journey: my biological father and my stepfather, both to cancer. That is one of the reasons I am so passionate about the work I do with the American Cancer Society. When I was a teenager, my parents split, and my biological father and I developed a strained relationship as a result. It’s common when you’re young to let the world consume you, including your anger. When I was in my late twenties, my father moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, just a couple hours down the road from Virginia Beach, where I was living at the time.
That’s when the call came late one weeknight. “I’m in a cold sweat, I can’t sleep, can’t catch my breath and my left shoulder really hurts.”
“I would not trade those years for anything. They were years well spent healing wounds.”
Jason BakerMy response was simple: Call the number on the back of your insurance card and call 911. I’m on the way. The Outer Banks didn’t have a true hospital at that time, so I met him at the local 24-hour emergency center. I followed the ambulance to Elizabeth City, where there was a proper hospital. He was lucky. That heart attack was a wake-up call for him. But the world works in mysterious ways, and it gave me the chance to start rebuilding a relationship that had been damaged for years.
As life evolved, I began doing more work on the Outer Banks in my mid-thirties, work that required me to spend several nights a week on the barrier islands. I spent many of those nights with my father, and it became an even bigger opportunity to mend that relationship. It was also an odd time in the business world. The economy had tanked, and most businesses, including mine, were struggling. I was spending significant time away from my family, which created stress on the home front. But I would not trade those years for anything. They were years well spent healing wounds.
When my father lost his battle with cancer, he was in the process of shopping for a home in Sarasota. Moving to Florida would have placed him closer to me and my family once again.
I tell this story because, on the eve of Father’s Day, I think about how different my life would be if I hadn’t been given the opportunity to repair that relationship with my father. Take that opportunity. Fathers and sons tend to have a different kind of relationship, and sometimes it can be complicated. Don’t miss the chance to repair a relationship, whether with a parent, a child, a sibling or a lost friend, before it’s too late. Holding onto hatred, envy, jealousy or ill will only eats away at you. Let it go.
This month, we feature a remarkable story about a father and son who built a business from the ground up. Through sweat and tears, they created a company focused on building people first in order to build structures. I invite you to share in the ups and downs of the Greene family’s journey.
We also highlight the magical evening at The Vinoy, when we celebrated the Women Who Win. Please join us in celebrating these remarkable women who continue paving the way for the professional women coming behind them.
Enjoy the June issue of TBBW. Enjoy your family and friends. Enjoy the summer.
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