Conversations with my Dad
Accessing Your Full Potential by Making the Right Choices at the Right Time.
Copyright 2016 Donald Middleton
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Published by:
Transformation Books
211 Pauline Drive #513
York, PA 17402
www.TransformationBooks.com
ISBN: 978-0-9968271-5-7
Library of Congress Control No: 2016935657
Cover design by: Ranilo Cabo with creative inspiration provided by Donald Middleton
Layout and typesetting: Ranilo Cabo
Editor: Allison Saia
Proofreader: Michelle Cohen
Book Midwife: Carrie Jareed
Printed in the United States of America
Dedication
Dedicated to everyone who protects us daily with honor and integrity. Especially to the men and women of the armed forces, who continuously sacrifice time away from their loved ones so that we can continue be safe.
Table of Contents
Preface
T he trials of life and a slow week for news gave birth to this fathers guide for his children. I am a strong believer in the idea that history is shaped by the deeds of extraordinary men and women. This theory was most memorably advanced by the British writer, Thomas Carlyle, and was well-suited to the American version of this University of Detroit graduate.
Conversations with my Dad is insistent on the premise that people should take an honest look at the world surrounding them and create memorable forms of knowledge to enrich the lives of the young people they come in contact with each and every day. Although the topic implies Dad, it is built around the African parable: It takes a village to raise a child. Therefore, the books signature series tribute was not the result of high level philosophy; rather, it was driven by something far more important: Donalds historical deadline.
Acknowledgments
I t took a lot of patience and expertise to bring this book from what was a dream into reality. Id like to thank my wife, first and foremost, for her patience and nurturing, which inspired me to get this book done. I want to also thank my children who, through our life experiences, provided me much of the content that is discussed in this book. A special thanks to my sisters who helped mold and nurture me into a responsible man. Thank you to all of my brothers biological as well as those who took me under their wing and protected me as I evolved. I also would like to thank the members of Christine Klosers publishing team, especially Allison and Carrie, who are almost as patient as my wife.
Thank You
The Origin
T his book is based on conversations that I had with my sons. At the time, I saw one of my sons making bad decisions that I knew would impact his life negatively in the future. So I decided to sit down with both of them and record some important topics that I felt would be necessary in moving them towards future successful outcomes.
The topics that we covered were:
- Mind your business
- Why a good education is a necessity
- The keys to a better existence/conflict resolution
- The importance of choosing the right mate/partner
- The importance in maintaining you family structure
- The importance of good negotiation skills
- Choices (Race Religion and Politics)
I chose these topics as a foundation of what I felt would be an ongoing and continuing dialogue for them as they moved forward into manhood. As we cover each of these topics individually, I will explain how each of them can be life-changing and transformational.
The Purpose
C onversations with My Dad was designed for individuals who feel that they are not getting their desired outcomes and who have determined that change is necessary.
- Keep in mind, in order for any method used to gain success, an individual or group must be willing to do the following things.
- Take an honest inventory of their current life circumstances and how they arrived at them.
- Visualize where they would like their transformation to take them.
- Map out a strategy for achieving your desired outcome.
- Commit yourself to your cause (DISCIPLINE).
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.
Booker T. Washington
Letter to the Creator
God,
Today I am seeking understanding. As I go through this life that I have been given charge of, I understand that I am to give you all honor and praise. After that, I honestly dont understand how it works. Its as if someone has given me a great gift without proper or complete instructions. Many claim to have the answers, which are laid out in the many different texts that have been written over time. However, what I have come to find over the years, is that many of these writings have been altered or changed in order to serve the purposes of the individuals that are promoting them. I know that everything that I, and the many inhabitants of this world, need to live a righteous life has already been placed within us at birth. What I am trying to understand is, why do the good have to suffer with the bad? Why does it always seem as though the bad prosper while the righteous struggle? Why do so many good people have to die so young? God, I know you know my heart; but I have a confession to make. I stand before you as humbly as I know how and I want you to know that I am angry. Well, to be honest, Im not only angry; Im also confused. Why? Its because I see so many young people murdered or corrupted before they even get a chance to experience life. This shouldnt be and I know you have your reasons, but this has left me, and so many others like me, with burning questions.
This reality leads me to ask these questions:
- Are we your personal experiment?
- Were we put here just to see who will survive and who will be consumed by the evil nature of mankind?
- Or are we in a hell that we will never escape?