But What If Your Father Was Absent?

A special Father’s Day episode with Dr. Herbert Harris and author Olivia Benson

My longtime friend Olivia Benson grew up with an absent father, a story I featured back in March for “Great Books, Great Minds.”  Curious, I asked her what that was like for her on Father’s Day. Here’s what she shared with me: 

“On Father’s Day, I used to feel very sad about my Dad being absent from my life and the fact that we didn’t have a real relationship. For years, I kept asking myself whether I should even buy him a gift. Then one day after years of  inner work, I began to realize that the one gift I could give to him is compassion for the trauma he must have gone through that led to his absence in my life. In other words, acknowledging the pain and suffering he must have experienced as a little boy.” 

Olivia adds that while her compassion and forgiveness should in no way be viewed as relieving him of the consequences of his behavior, the larger significance of this act of forgiveness is worth celebrating.  She adds: 

“Being able to heal myself and forgive frees both him and me, allowing each of us to move on with our respective lives.” 

I invite you now to enjoy this Father’s Day edition of “Great Books, Great Minds,” featuring Olivia who is the author “For the Love of My Father: A Spiritual Guide for Women Healing From the Absence of a Father in the Age of Spiritual Evolution” and noted author, speaker and podcaster Dr. Herbert Harris.