FocusJax readers, leaders, followers, dreamers, and creators, here is a short message about a father teaching his five-year-old son a significant lesson on doing the right thing. On my way to work one winter morning in Washington, DC, I ventured down an icy and snowy sidewalk toward the entrance of the Washington Navy Yard. Yes, I worked a full-time job at the time.

This message is a “proposal to live” story, a term I use to describe real-life experiences that offer valuable lessons for personal growth and development. As I took my treacherous, steadfast, and energetic walk, a father and son entered my path.

The child, who appeared to be about five years old, was riding his scooter. The father, with unwavering dedication, performed his parental duties like a jester in the king’s palace.

He not only taught his young son how to ride a scooter but also demonstrated the importance of obeying the norms and known rules for sidewalk walking. The father’s careful instructions and unwavering commitment to his son’s safety inspired respect and admiration among all who witnessed it.

Of course, there is a risk to a five-year-old riding his scooter on the sidewalk near one of the busiest streets in America’s children’s capital.

“Always Share What You Know”

Yet the father gave the son about 3 feet of space ahead of him to ride the scooter. During this time, the father always gave the child instructions on how to ride the scooter safely. He kept talking to the child as the child pushed his scooter forward.

When the child approached the next intersection, where we faced a crosswalk, the father quickly sprinted forward, grabbed the child’s hand, and closed the distance between them. He squatted to face the child at his level. He began instructing him on how to cross the street in the crosswalk, demonstrating how responsible behavior models community safety and values.

He pointed out instructions on following the electronic bright yellow crosswalk sign. Like a good sociologist observing and listening astutely, I heard the father say to the son, “Always stand clear of the curb and look in both directions before you walk across the street.” He told his son to watch him and learn.

The son asked, “Why, Daddy? The father responded that busy drivers sometimes only notice people when they are in danger. Those drivers sometimes hit people with their cars, trucks, or other vehicles. The son listened and slowly backed away from the curve in the sidewalk; it was safe. What’s father’s father’s in small but consistent steps.

“How Others Became The Model To Follow”

Next, something miraculously happened, and it baffled me, too. I usually walk in crosswalks. Even when the crosswalk sign tells me to wait, I rush across the street. Several walkers and I stood patiently that day as the father offered his son proposals for instruction. Why?

Like my street-walking friends that day, I did not want to present the child with an unusual way to behave. After observing how the father meticulously instructed his son, I waited for the crosswalk signal light to change, indicating it was safe to cross the street.

Within a few seconds, I also made eye contact with the father. I told the father his instruction was so good that I did not want to show his son any bad examples or behaviors. The father smiled and thanked me. What’s remarkable is that other walkers heard my conversation with the father.

The walkers near and behind me said they thought the same thing about the father’s instruction. This shared understanding and appreciation for the father’s actions created a sense of unity among us, making us all feel connected and part of a community. What happened next inspired this blog. Everyone, united in their respect for the father’s guidance, waited for the crosswalk signal to change, allowing us to cross the street safely.

“Observations, People, and Experiences Make A Difference”

This simple proposal to live a story became a lesson for everyone walking to work that day. We experienced a life-changing encounter, one that prompted us to reflect on our behavior and interactions. If I did my job well today, you’ll remember the lesson, and maybe your five-year-olds won’t forget to apply it to their own lives. You get to share the same story with others through my wisdom, sparking a chain of introspection and thoughtful consideration.

As we walked our separate ways, the other walkers and I laughed about our mutual experience. Based on our observation of the interactive environment that day, we agreed to support the father’s focused effort to teach his son the right thing to do.

That unique proposal to live in the moment will change a five-year-old’s life forever, and it did the same for the other sidewalk walkers and me, too.

Remember, we don’t change the message; the message changes you.

“Continuous And Never-Ending Improvement”

As a FocusJax reader, follower, supporter, leader, or dreamer, you are part of an ongoing journey of growth. Your commitment to learning and development drives our progress and gives us hope for the future.

I need, want, and desire your feedback to practice continuous and never-ending improvement. Your suggestions help shape this blog and inspire ongoing growth for everyone involved.

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