A Reflection on Fatherhood By: Mike Ritter

“The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself, but for his family.” - Reed Markham

Dad-hood has been nothing short of extraordinary and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. Everything that used to feel ordinary now requires a little bit extra -- extra effort, extra money, and extra time. A trip to the beach used to be easy. Now it requires us to pack up the car to the brim with extra toys, floaties, towels, strollers, snacks, drinks, hats, clothes (for now), clothes (for later), and a few extra trips back inside the house to get what we forgot.

I would be fooling you if I said fatherhood was easy. Then again, I can’t think of a single joy in my life greater than my family. But the pressures can be very tall. In the highest leadership position of my life, I’ve had to suddenly become the gatekeeper of the futures of two beautiful humans. This means I’ve had to become a financier, chef, mechanic, carpenter, landscaper, and crisis aversion manager -- without any formal education in these areas! As much pride that comes with fatherhood also comes pressure.

Truthfully, the world feels very large at times. The weight can feel very heavy but it doesn’t change the fact that you must rise to the challenge. Everything your children do in life will be influenced by you. You know it and you feel it. The way they act as adults will have a piece of you in it. Even if they don’t grow up just like you they will certainly develop their own ethical codes based on the world you show them.

The health of your children is heavily influenced by you and the choices you make. As much as our children are their own independent thinkers, their outlook on life is based on their experiences. The food they are fed through their mouths feeds every cell in their body. When you tell them, “You are what you eat,” you may not realize how profound of a statement you are making. Food literally becomes them.

The way they think about movement directly influences how much they move and how much they enjoy it. How much they move also influences the way they think. You have a profound role in both, especially in the earlier years.

This doesn’t mean you have control over their lives, but you do have influence. Your boys and girls will ultimately choose their path but it starts with me and you.

Unfortunately, we’re battling a major crisis of men with extraordinarily poor health. But the good news is that you have all of the materials, tools, and support you need to make this better -- right here at the FASTer Way.

The FASTer Way has collected as much information as could possibly be wrapped up into an easy-to-follow, highly-effective curriculum to help you understand how to help yourself and your family. And that’s only the beginning of how the FASTer Way can help you achieve optimal health.

Our kids are following our lead but they don’t have to experience the same problems we have experienced. You can break the cycle of poor health and set them up for a lifetime of success!

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