I first shared what I thought “grow roots” meant to me here:
18. Grow Roots
This life lesson is one half of what my parents worked to instill in me and my brothers and sister. “Roots and Wings”. To me, Roots is best exemplified by my father. He was raised on a farm and has always demonstrated more than he's communicated. We moved to Edgewood TX in 1996. It was there I started kindergarten and started to learn what it meant to be…
I thought I would take that idea and expand on it through a Power Acronym also inspired by my dad.
Let me know what you think!
Power Acronym 57: R.O.O.T.S.
Responsibility
My dad has a sense of duty to himself, his family, and his community to serve others well. I’ve always admired and worked to emulate what he’s modeled in my own life.
Optimism
Dad is pretty stoic until you get him laughing, which he loves to do. He’d also rather work toward a solution today before he’d worry about tomorrow.
“the tallest trees started under the dirt”
Ontology
Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
Pretty deep and not a word my dad would use but it came to mind because he’s always where his feet are. He’s present in ways others aren’t. You won’t catch him doom-scrolling social media.
If we’re talking about roots, we need to acknowledge the importance of depth.
Touch
When I think about roots, I think “grounded”. Dirt under your fingernails, the grip of a handshake. You won’t find my dad in the gym but he will find an opportunity to move and won’t shy away from physical labor.
But he isn’t all tough. His
Stability
Like the oak tree in our back yard, he stands solid through storm and hardship. I think being a dependable presence for others is an important quality for men to have, especially in a time when there is a lack of leadership.
Maybe the best way to wrap up R.O.O.T.S. is to expand the oak tree metaphor by placing a tire swing on it.
Grow R.O.O.T.S.!
Power Acronym Daily
Daily acronyms to encourage, enrich, and empower.