Thursday, October 11, 2012
Featured guests:
Wayne Levine (BetterMenCoaching.com) for “The Men’s Room.”
Pastor Drew Sams (DrewSams.com) for “Teen Rap.”
Special Guest, Dr. Jennifer Weberman (The Parenting Playground)
This show is loosely based on this week’s “A Dad’s Point-of-View” column, How to Make a Difference: One Person at a Time. We discuss making a difference here.
When I began writing, my initial goal was to be a dad advocate as my own experiences motivated me in that direction. I still advocate on behalf of dads and all parents. But, as I ventured into the world of Social Media, I realized I had another goal of larger importance and that was to do my part to make the world a better place – to do my part to Repair the World, or Heal the World as Michael Jackson said!
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Up to his nest again, I shall not live in vain.
– Emily Dickinson
#DadChat – Thursday, May 31 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., PT – was about teaching our children the VALUE of paying it forward. We raised money for a terrific cause, Shot@Life, with THREE incredible prizes that we auctioned off during #DadChat. You can also donate on your own whatever amount you wish, as I’m sure you’ll want to support this very worthwhile, giving, and caring organization. This is what I mean by “Repair the World,” which I so often say. One of Shot At Life’s biggest boosters, Ted Rubin, was our co-host for this special #DadChat. Read the transcript!
For many of us, the holidays are a mixed bag. We want to be happy and get into the spirit, but there often is a lot of baggage we carry with us. It may be sad memories from childhood. It may be sad consequences of divorce. Or, it may be loneliness. For me, it’s been a sense of a longing for a bigger family, as for much of my life my family unit was small. Most of us have it good and that is why I want to focus on empathy as a great way to cope, understand, and feel good.
You all know my story about meeting toys, and more. The 3rd box just arrived and they were overjoyed. In the photos they just sent me, they included one of the Internet Cafe they go to when they want to communicate with the outside world. While I doubt they can get broadband in their small town, there’s NO doubt they could use a laptop or two!
So, I’m launching a fund-raiser, today on my radio show, to raise money for this cause. Details about who to make out the checks to and the charity will be forthcoming as I need to set this up “officially.” If, in the meantime, you’d like to send them some books, toys, games, and more, please do so to:
Frank Bennin
P.O. Box 719
Agona, Swedru
Ghana
I’ve learned repeatedly in my life that whenever I give to the world, whether by direct action or donations, I get back so much more than the effort or money involved. This is a life lesson that our kids should learn as so many of them, here in America, are living the “easy life” with no sense of the hardships most of the world has to bear and that most of mankind has historically suffered.
One of the unexpected benefits of my writing career and now my radio show is the opportunity to meet and interact with people I’d never have otherwise encountered. My “A Dad’s Point-of-View” Facebook page has around 2,500 “members” (or “likes” as they call it) from literally all over the world. Over 35 different countries are represented with many from Africa (why? I don’t know).
(Please note that this is revised version of an older column, but one that holds a lot of value, in my opinion. I am still “matched” with both my “little brother” and mentor the young man with the genetic illness. I can say it’s not easy, either of these relationships, but I know it’s making a difference in their lives. It also costs me some money, but it’s my way of giving charity rather than writing a check to an organization)
One of the clichés about volunteerism is that “you get more than you give.” In my case, it was true in ways and means I least expected. I’ve just become a Big Brother and mentor, again, to a 7-year-old boy and a mentor to a 23-year-old young man. As these relationships are new, I don’t yet know what lessons I will learn. But I know well the lessons I learned the first time around.
I became a Big Brother long before I was married or a parent. My life, at that time, was pretty heady. In my early 30s, I had a successful showbiz career in which I was paid way too much for having so much fun. I lived in a lovely home in a chic part of town, had two cars, and no one to worry about other than myself.
