My 81-year-old dad just schooled me in emotional intelligence with a WhatsApp message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Ah Yun, can you help me text my ex-student?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walked to his room, to spare him the effort of hobbling to the living room on his walker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew exactly who he was referring to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decades after retirement, Ellen, his former student who now lives in the UK, got in touch with my father after his ex students set up a whatsapp group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She recently came back to Ipoh and visited my father. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also gave my dad a generous angpow, which my mum had complained about. \u2018I\u2019d have returned the money if I\u2019d known how much was in there!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walked up to my dad and began, \u201cTell me what you want to say and I\u2019ll send the message from my phone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To my surprise, he shook his head vigorously. \u201cNo, no. The message has to be sent from my phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was right. A forwarded message would\u2019ve stripped the warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Ok Dad. You go look up her name and call me when you’re done.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could do it for him, and much faster, but I knew the small action would give him a sense of purpose. I went to the kitchen to make coffee then ambled back to the living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Have you found her contact?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes.\u201d He passed the phone over to me with a shaky hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I sat down and got comfy. \u201cOk, what do you want to say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank her for the ang pow. Say my legs are weak, but I\u2019m healthy. Hope to see her again. And\u2026\u201d he paused to think a bit. \u201cMake sure you say thank you a few times, not just once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My heart melted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My father\u2019s small action demonstrated the value of authenticity more powerfully than any Linkedin guru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No wonder his students love him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you dad, and thank you Ellen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the wisest \u2018small\u2019 lesson someone older has taught you?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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