Hey L,
Two weeks ago we celebrated Father’s Day. And for some, this holiday is a time when we reconnect with our dads over dinner or at a sporting event to celebrate his life and the impact he had on us.
For others, it may be a time of mourning as we fondly remember those dads who have moved on and are no longer with us but left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.
Yet for some, Father’s Day serves as a painful memory, because the “dad” we had was absent, emotionally unavailable, abusive, or a major reason we struggle with our sense of self-worth and confidence.
And unfortunately, this is the case far too often with many of the guys I have worked with over the years who struggle with p*rn use.
The truth is I don’t know your situation.
I don’t know what Father’s Day means to you. Nor do I know if your memories of your father are entirely pleasant, a mix of bad or good, or a reconstructed narrative you’ve written to help make sense of the pain and abuse you experienced.
But I do know this. He tried his best.
“Carl, how can you say that? My dad was a tyrant. He was an abuser who only cared about himself. He never cared about me or my mom. He was a complete [insert explicative].”
Right, let me explain…
