Father’s Day
To tell and hear stories--to focus, to remember, and to learn--is essentially human. So many of the important cultural moments in our lives--graduations, weddings, birthdays, rallies, funerals--are marked by a sharing of stories. In this community, which we call The Dinner Party, we know firsthand that telling our stories and listening to those of others can also be uniquely healing, both personally and collectively.
This Father's Day, over 50 of us who have lost a Father--whether it be our own father, our children's father, or a father figure--are taking the time to speak their name, say what they did, remember what they stood for, and reflect on how it's been without them so far.
There is a huge amount of beauty in the common patterns of Fatherhood that emerge from the stories and photos below, but actually my favorite thing is that everyone's experience is their own. By remembering each Father exactly as they were--their joys, their quirks, and their struggles--we are able to powerfully name how they lived. And in doing so, we are also doing something for ourselves and each other. We are giving ourselves that special opportunity afforded through storytelling: the opportunity to focus, to remember, and to learn.
With love and gratitude,
Karl Snyder, Dinner Party Host