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Like many people this Father’s Day weekend, I’ve been thinking about my dad and all the ways he influenced my life.
When I was in high school, he’d occasionally bring me along to trade shows. I wasn’t there to do much of anything. Mostly, I watched. I saw how he greeted vendors, treated customers, and built relationships over time.
He never sat me down to explain the importance of trust or treating people well. He just lived those values every day. Looking back, I realize how much I learned from those trips, and I wish he were here to see how much I’ve relied on those lessons.
Every father has his own way of passing along wisdom. Some offer advice directly. Others teach through example. Most do a little of both. Father’s Day gives us a reason not only to celebrate our dads but also reflect on the gifts they gave us.
A few weeks ago, I invited the Celebrations Pulse community to share stories about their Amazing Dads. The response was overwhelming. Nearly all the stories focused on the lessons and values that continue to shape people years – even decades – later.
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The styles of fatherhood
Some fathers teach through words. Others teach through example.
Rochelle’s father was in his 20s, newly out of the military and raising three children under four when his wife walked away. He didn’t leave. He changed careers and spent the next four decades working his way up from janitor to a senior position at the same company. Rochelle wrote:
“He taught me so much without having to say a word. He is not a perfect person, nor did he live a perfect life — but I know so many others walk away or give up. He kept going.”
Kit’s father taught in a different way. While she was away at college, envelopes would arrive containing nothing more than a clipped newspaper comic, sometimes accompanied by a hand-drawn smiley face. She taped them above her dorm-room desk. The ritual continued for years.
The comics were a reminder that someone was thinking about her and a lesson in carrying a sense of humor through life’s challenges.
“My dad has been gone over 15 years now,” she wrote, “but many of our shared rituals hold a strong color in my heart.”
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A steady presence
The lessons people remember most often come from a dad’s steady presence. In the routines of daily life, fathers model values, character, and resilience in ways that endure for years.
Eileen grew up in a household facing financial and emotional strain. Her father traveled often, and life at home wasn’t always easy. But when he was there, she wrote, “I had a friend.”
He never raised his voice or his hand. He simply remained himself —patient and kind — despite circumstances that might have justified something less.
“He showed me that you don’t have to let your circumstances determine who you are.”
That story reminded me of something Larry Long Jr. shared in this week’s Power & Impact. As a struggling freshman
baseball player at the University of Maryland, Larry found himself questioning whether he belonged.
After a difficult start, his father challenged him: “With an attitude like that, how can you expect to succeed?” He urged Larry to work harder on his skills, but more importantly, on his mindset. Larry credits that conversation with changing the course of his life.
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The faces of fatherhood
Many readers also reminded me that Father’s Day isn’t just about biological fathers. Grandfathers, stepfathers, coaches, mentors, and family friends often leave the same kind of lasting imprint.
Marsha was six or seven years old when she began spending weekends with her grandfather, a pastor who traveled across Indiana preaching and teaching. What she remembers most are the walks through his garden — zinnias, canna lilies, four o’clocks, and morning glories — while she followed behind and watched.
Her grandfather died in 1965, when she was 14. Nearly 60 years later, she grows those same flowers in her New Mexico garden.
“Every time I see them, I think of him and his gentle spirit,” she wrote. “A generally quiet man, his presence and his guidance spoke of his love and deep care for me, so much louder than any words he ever uttered.”
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The lessons we carry with us
Some of the most moving letters came from readers reflecting on fathers who are no longer here. They serve as a reminder to those who still have their fathers to reach out and connect while there’s still time.
Barbara’s father served in the Navy and later worked at NASA during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. He witnessed some of the most remarkable moments of the 20th century.
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Barbara knows the broad outlines of that story. What she wishes she had now are the details. What first drew him to aviation? What did he think when he heard about Pearl Harbor? What was it like to help advance human exploration?
“Stories ... why, oh, why didn’t I get more stories out of my dad when he was alive?” she wrote. “A quiet man, he would have had to have been prompted ... a lot!”
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The Father’s Day opportunity
If your father is still here, consider this your opening. Ask him something you don’t know the answer to. Find out what he was thinking during the moments you remember differently, or the ones you were too young to understand at the time.
And if your father has passed away, the opportunity is different but just as meaningful: Share one of his stories, pass along one of his lessons, and keep something he taught you alive in another person.
That’s what Amazing Dads have always done. This Father’s Day, we have the opportunity to do the same.
All the best,
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Larry Long Jr. lost his father more than a decade ago. He still hears his voice every day.
As a struggling freshman baseball player at the University of Maryland, Larry was mired in a brutal slump. His father sat him down and delivered a message he didn’t want to hear: Fix your mindset, and everything else will follow.
The lesson stuck. Larry went on to hit .319 in ACC play that season, and the advice has continued to guide him throughout his life and career.
In this week’s episode of Power & Impact, Larry reflects on his father’s influence and the setbacks that shaped his journey. We trace his growth from student-athlete to internationally recognized speaker, coach, and author, exploring the philosophies that drive his success.
Our conversation dives into why relationships will always matter more than resumes, how sales is ultimately an act of service, and what young people entering today’s competitive workforce can do to carve out their own opportunities.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, this episode serves as a tribute to the legacy of the people who believe in us and the wisdom that continues to light our way long after they’re gone.
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50 Years In: Our first dispatcher-in-chief
As 1-800-Flowers.com marks its 50th anniversary, I’ve been thinking less about milestones and more about the moments that have helped shape our story. This week, here’s a story about the role my dad played in the early days of the company.
While I deeply regret that my father passed away before seeing what this business would become, I’m grateful that he saw its beginning.
When I opened my first flower shop in 1976, my dad was still working as a painting contractor. As the shop took off, I had to negotiate with him to borrow my brother, Chris, to help out. Years later, Chris would become our CEO, so I’d say those negotiations paid off.
But my dad couldn’t stay away for long. Every holiday season, he’d show up at our Bayside store and take over the back room.
We didn’t ask him to. He didn’t have to. But my dad knew every street grid in the city. During the holidays, when the trucks were loaded and panicked drivers were lined up, that knowledge was our secret weapon. He became our unofficial dispatcher-in-chief.
This was decades before GPS or Waze. He relied entirely on paper Hagstrom maps and sheer instinct. He routed drivers across the city with a confidence that only comes from knowing a place in your bones.
He refused to take a single dime of pay. He came because his family was there, everyone was working, and there was a problem he knew how to solve. That was enough for him.
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The hug felt around the world
Moments after the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals and Jalen Brunson was named MVP, television cameras captured him embracing his father, Rick. The hug lasted only a few seconds, but it spoke volumes.
In that hug, you could see years of encouragement, sacrifice, guidance, and belief. You could see the pride of a father watching his son reach the highest level of his profession and the gratitude of a son who knew he hadn’t gotten there alone.
Most fathers never find themselves celebrating an NBA championship, but the emotions on display were instantly recognizable. Fathers help shape who we become, often through thousands of small moments that seem ordinary at the time.
Watching the Brunsons celebrate was a reminder that one of the greatest rewards of fatherhood is seeing those lessons take root and flourish. That’s a legacy worth celebrating this Father’s Day.
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What's on your mind?
For more than six years and hundreds of Sundays, the Celebrations Pulse has been a space to explore the moments, rituals, relationships, and ideas that shape our lives. Along the way, I’ve found that the most meaningful editions often begin with a spark from a reader.
As we look ahead to future letters, I want to make sure we're focusing on the things that matter most to you. Is there a celebration, life transition, family tradition, or unique challenge you've been navigating? Is there someone in your community whose story of connection deserves to be shared? Or perhaps there's a topic you've been reflecting on that simply doesn't get enough attention.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you have an idea or a question in mind, please click the button below to share it.
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Written by our Founder and Chairman, our Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. From sharing stories to welcoming your ideas, we want to help you to express, connect, and celebrate the important people in your life.
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