My father, Samuel Russell Harris, died when I was 27 years old. Even today I still miss him. He was an eternal optimist! We didn’t have much as a child, but my Dad always encouraged us to turn tough times into an adventure of learning and joy in even the smallest of trials.
I remember when we were getting close to payday and were deciding about what to prepare from our meager cupboards, he joked, “Let’s pick some dandelions, and have them for dinner, and then we can tell the story someday about how we survived on dandelion greens!” Little did he know that today we would be buying dandelions at Whole Foods as a nutritious green food!
My dad was an advocate of the power of positive thinking. When I was a little girl he began reading to me from Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking, first published in 1952, and also read to me from Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence people, written in 1936, and other writers of the era such as Napoleon Hill, Thoreau, and Hemingway. Dad wrote poetry and kept a daily journal. He told me, growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, that no matter what society dictated as limitations, I could do good and make a difference in the world if my heart so desired.
My dad only had an 8th-grade education. He had a traumatic brain injury at age 15 when hit by a car and in a coma for 4 months. Despite his hard start in life, my dad was one of the smartest men I have ever known. When asked what he did for a living Dad laughed and responded, “I am a jack of all trades.”
To me, Dad was my elder-guide. He was self-educated, a poet, a philosopher, a dreamer, and an adventurer. I am grateful that, as my elder-guide, he prepared me to approach life’s ups and downs with hope and inspiration. I am honored to be his daughter carrying his spirit of curiosity, optimism, and adventure on my life journey too.
I recognize that a father is not always defined by their genetic association with a child. I respect and appreciate others who have stepped up to be role models, elder guides, and an inspiration for so many.
You may have an elder guide in your life, either male or female who has inspired you to be the best you can be! Your elder guides shape who you are and encourage you to be greater than you thought you could be. Elderhood is so powerful with wisdom and guidance for us all.
Around the world, people are celebrating their fathers and father role models. I found that more than 30 countries in the world are celebrating Father’s day On June 18th. In Catholic Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) since the Middle Ages. The Spanish and Portuguese brought this celebration to Latin America, where March 19 is often still the date, though many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the U.S. date.
Below, see the dates in other countries in the world when fathers are honored!
- Third Sunday in June: United States, Argentina, Aruba[,Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Venezuela.
- February 23: Russia
- March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) – Croatia, Italy. Portugal, Spain,
- May: 2nd Sunday – Romania
- May 1: Israel
- May 8: Korea
- June 1st Sunday: Lithuania
- June 2nd Sunday: Austria, Belgium
- June 5 Denmark
- June 23: Poland
- June Last Sunday: Haiti
- August 2: Brazil
- August 8: Mongolia, Taiwan
- September 1st Sunday: Australia
- September 2nd Sunday: Latvia
- November 1st Sunday – New Zealand
- November 2nd : Sunday. Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway
- November 12: Indonesia
- November 2nd: Sunday. Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway
- December 5: Thailand
- 40th Day after Easter (Ascension day): Germany
“I always joke that my kids’ favorite holiday is Father’s Day. They love the way I celebrate the occasion by writing each of them a thank-you letter and a check. It’s my way of letting them know how much I appreciate the great pleasure and privilege of being their dad.” Wayne Dyer
About the Author: Jean Garboden is the Director of Education and Innovation at Compass Senior Living, located in Eugene Oregon. Jean is an Elder Advocate and Eden Alternative Educator with over 30 years’ experience in not-for-profit and for-profit health care organizations. She is honored to lead the mission and values culture development for Compass Senior Living. Jean lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where she enjoys the weather and volunteers with the Nevadans for the Common Good, advocating for caregivers and elders in southern Nevada.
True North Elderhood 