$pent Millennial

Dear Reader,

All the people in this world haven’t had the advantages I’ve had.

This is a truth I try to keep at the front of my mind—especially in moments when it would be easier not to. It’s something my dad taught me early on. A guiding value, passed down through a quote from one of his favorite books:

“‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me,
‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’“
—F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

This quote, and the mindset it represents, was one of many lessons woven into how my father raised my siblings and me. It taught us to lead with grace. To meet people where they are. To extend understanding before judgment. 

These are values and practices I work to incorporate into my day-to-day life. In honor of Father’s Day today, I wanted to share a few more of his teachings—quiet, consistent lessons that still shape how I live, give, and connect.

1. Never take what you have for granted.
Any time we were driving in the rain or loading groceries into our car, my dad would pose a question like:
“Would you rather be in this car, or walking with groceries on your back in the pouring rain?”
It wasn’t meant to shame us, and it rarely came when we were complaining. It was a way to remind us of where we’d been and of what we had. Of how access—like a reliable car—wasn’t something to overlook. I still think of that lesson frequently, like every time I do my big grocery haul with the convenience of my own vehicle.

2. Give more than you take, and always leave a place better than you found it.
This one got drilled in during childhood trips to the toy aisle or play spaces at the library. When it was time to leave, he’d tell us to clean up—even if we weren’t the ones who’d made the mess. If we protested, he’d say it didn’t matter who made the mess. What mattered was how we left things.

That habit stuck. Years later, I was grocery shopping with him when we noticed a few items scattered on the floor. I knelt down to pick them up without thinking. A store employee thanked us, and I realized then: it wasn’t just a habit. It was a value—modeled again and again until it became part of me.

3. If you’re going to eat something around others, make sure you have enough to share.
And even if you don’t have much, share what you do have.
This one was delivered with near-religious seriousness—some blend of our Italian roots and the story of loaves and fishes. The offense of eating something in front of others without offering to share? Grave. Unforgivable. And I still carry that with me. There is always enough to go around.

4. Know how to grocery shop on a budget.
Grocery runs with Dad were a multi-part process. First, we’d walk through the store with a calculator, sticking strictly to the essentials. We’d check out. Then—if there was money left in the envelope—we’d head back in for the fun stuff: snacks, sweets, treats. And if there was anything left after that, we might splurge on donuts or dessert.

It was my first lesson in needs vs. wants, in sticking to a plan, in the envelope method of budgeting (sorry Gen Z, you didn’t invent that one). It’s a lesson that served me well when I was paying off debt and scraping together savings.

5. Keep something sweet in the house.
Candy, cookies, a little treat. Just something to end the day with a small delight.

6. A slice of cake shared can taste better than the whole cake.
There’s something about sharing and the limited nature that just makes it sweeter.

7. Always pack your swimsuit.
You never know when the opportunity for a swim might arise. And you don’t want to miss it.

These are just a few of the lessons I carry. Practical. Simple. But each one layered with love and generosity and the quiet belief that we are responsible for one another.

Happy Father’s Day.

Until next week—take care and be well,
Everett