Today is Father’s Day.
My son Yuanbao suggested that we celebrate with a watermelon. My wife and I immediately agreed.
No reservations. No special gifts. No elaborate plans.
Just a watermelon on the table and the three of us sitting together on a summer afternoon.
Much of my life has been spent building things—medical centers, new programs, international collaborations, educational projects. There is always another meeting to attend, another flight to catch, another goal to pursue.
For many years, I believed progress was measured by how far we could move forward. Now I am not so sure.
Perhaps part of a meaningful life is knowing when to pause.
To pause for dinner with family.
To listen to your child talk about his day.
To share an ordinary evening with the people who have quietly supported you through every stage of your journey.
As physicians, we spend our careers helping people preserve their health and extend their lives.
Yet moments like this remind me what those extra years are really for.
Tonight’s Father’s Day celebration was nothing more than a watermelon.
And somehow, that felt like enough.
Happy Father’s Day!
