Father’s Day is June 19th!!!
In my recently published book, Standing Above the Crowd, is have a chapter titled “Dance With My Father” in which I write about the need for Fathers to step up and become more involved in the lives of their children (especially their sons!). With Father’s Day coming up soon, a great gift for the Father in your life would be a copy of Standing Above the Crowd www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com It’ll be a wonderful way to show that you understand the challenges and struggles that they go through as Fathers, and perhaps even give them a few tips on how to have a better relationship with you.Here are a few excepts from the chapter “Dance With My Father”
– One of my all time favorite songs is Luther Vandross’ “Dance with My Father.” It’s the only song that brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear it. If you don’t know the song, I encourage you to search online for the lyrics or to buy the music. I don’t know what kind of relationship Luther Vandross had with his father, but I can only hope that the song was inspired by his own personal experience of his father lifting him high and spinning him round and round before taking him up the stairs and tucking him in for a good night’s sleep.– Men, and especially those of you who are fathers, I want you to remember this! You’re not bad guys or bad people! Sure, we get portrayed as buffoons on TV, and we don’t get a lot of respect at home or in any other walk of life, but we all have to remember that we have so much to offer and to give back to young people and to the wonderful relationships we have.
– A dad means so much to every young boy, and I feel for boys who either didn’t have a dad around or have bad memories of when dad was around. Dads are definitely not perfect, and most dads really struggle in their roles as fathers, but you have to admire the ones who hang in there through it all. If you’re a dad who happens to have a young son, pick him up and swing him around and around, and then carry him off to tuck him into bed. He’ll know he’s loved, and he’ll never forget it!
– Remember when Bill Cosby was given the title “America’s Favorite TV Dad” after his great portrayal of father Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show? Cosby had his own bestselling book Fatherhood, in which he brought a lot of humor to the role of being a father. He has some funny lines like “Fatherhood is…pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope,” and “helping your children learn English as a foreign language,” or “knowing that ‘Everything’s okay, Dad’ means ‘I haven’t killed anyone.’”
I hope that you’re able to enjoy your Fathers and Father figures in your life while their still around to enjoy them. Let them know they are loved, appreciated and respected, and your relationship will continue to grow and blossom.
Enjoy Standing Above the Crowd and Happy Father’s Day on June 19th!
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
[email protected]
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
