Publisher’s Letter

June is our annual Men’s Health issue, and appropriately, a Father’s Day tribute as both fall in June. 

By the age of 24, I was already a father of two, and it was terrifying. Father’s Day was not a day of honesty. My actions, or lack of actions, and my fear of not knowing what to do had consequences that still haunt me. 

When I think of Father’s Day, I think of my own father as a young man, fatherless and struggling through the depression. Today, I understand the void that losing his father left on his soul. We have never spoken about his dad. As I write this, I realize I don’t even know my grandfather’s first name. It must have been tucked away somewhere but my dad could not bring it to the surface. Emotions, feelings, touching, caring, empathy, love, all pushed inside, locked up in the sanctuary of his heart. 

The ongoing evolution of the father of today is priceless. Today we can acknowledge that dads make a difference—to the children, to the family, to themselves.  

I mention those two personal bits of information to highlight the gigantic mountain dads have hiked over.  The proud, loving dad of today is so diverse, so involved, so much more aware of family. From the joy of birth and the abundance of newfound love, to the involvement of building a healthy family, the role of dad has changed. Naturally, we’re still growing, but now we are better caretakers, communicators, and emotionally involved. Today’s dads are more supportive, physically involved and engaged with our children. We are better role models and mentors, best friends, and dads you can count on, confide in and trust.  

So, let the celebration begin! Hug your dad, and your dad’s dad, if you can. Don’t stop at a single day, make the entire month of June Father’s Day. Do something special, leave a note of appreciation, write a letter of thanks. Love him a little bit more, acknowledge him for who he is (even if you think he is clueless). Believe it or not, being acknowledged by your son or daughter is like being given a brick of gold that glitters in the sunlight. 

Those moments are the precious unspoken rewards of parenting. 

If your dad has transitioned, then remember his greatest days and spend some mental time with him. For some I know it might be a challenge due to circumstances. I understand. I still wish and hope you can find it in your heart to know that all of us dads try to do our best with what we have. 

My dad could not do for me what he had never learned. And I could not do for my oldest children what I had not learned. But if forgiveness is an option, I hope you will take the moment to forgive. We’re all just human beings trying to figure it all out one day at a time. 

Finding patience, learning to listen, to shut up, to hear you, to connect with you to understand you is not always easy, and improving is a two-way street of trust. I guarantee that the base of family, of Mom and Dad, is love. And love is always good.  

Just a note—they say to know your audience, I know kids don’t read this magazine as much as grownups, but I hope there is someone you can share this with if you think it is worth sharing. 

With love, peace and laughter,

Joe and Asta Dunne, Publishers