My Kindness Journey

The following essay is a testimony of Michael Chase kindness journey. Michael Chase is one of the speakers of the Hay House Summit, 2015.

When I was young, my dad did not treat me well. After I grew up, my dad and I are always at odd. Even he lived only an hour from my house, we did not see each other often. Occasionally, we got together. The awkward situation did not change.

One day, he came to my house, speaking in a hurry tone.

"Mike, this is a legal document that authorizes you to pull the plug for the life support system when I am at emergency situation. Can you look over the document and sign the document?"

I felt dad was pushing my button again because my son was also present at the moment.

"Dad, let us not talk about this, especially when Jeff (my son) is around"

Despite a thorny relation between me and my dad, my son, Jeff, had wonderful relationship with my dad. Jeff was excited to see his grandpa visiting us.

"Dad, can grandpa stay with us tonight?" Jeff begged.

I was quiet, and did not say a word. Dad saw my uneasiness, and made an excuse not to stay.

"Thank you, Jeff. But grandpa needs to go. I have many other things to take care."

This is not true; because I know dad already retired. He would stay overnight with Jeff if I would open my heart.

I saw dad left with a body language of sadness and being deserted. Deep in my heart, I would have to rush to him to ask him to stay. But my head said that I would not like 'this jerk' to stay inside of my house.

Three weeks later, a door bell rings in middle of night. A state trooper came him and deliver a bad news about my dad.

"I am sorry to tell you that your dad had committed suicide"

I was stone-shocked. My resentment to dad had led me to very unkind to dad. From that moment, I told my wife that I will devote the rest of my life to kindness.