365 Squarey Monsters: Is Your Dad the Silent Type?

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My dad wasn't one for long talks. Growing up in our house, you didn't get heart-to-hearts or big speeches. He found other ways to show how much he cared, like warming up the car on freezing mornings or quietly tucking a few dollars into your coat pocket when you weren't looking.

Dad came from a generation when fathers were expected to provide and protect but not necessarily do much talking. As a painting contractor, he spent his days working with his hands and came home with flecks of color on his clothes and a kind of silent pride that didn't need explaining.

Though dads today tend to be more involved and emotionally present than previous generations, I sense there are some lingering remnants from the past. When we talk about our families around the office, it's clear that many folks still find it easier to open up to their moms. There's often a hesitance, even among grown children, to have deeper conversations with Dad.

With Father's Day coming up, maybe we can change that. We can use the occasion to go beyond the usual greetings and share something deeper, opening a longer conversation that extends far beyond next Sunday.

Why so many Amazing Dads are amazingly quiet

There's a reason many dads struggle to express their feelings. Growing up, many men like my dad were taught that keeping emotions under wraps was a sign of strength. Expressing how they felt was often dismissed as a weakness.

But the silence runs deeper than just upbringing. Studies suggest men are biologically inclined to process stress differently. While women often seek social connection during hard times, men are more likely to withdraw, a trait rooted in evolutionary roles. And while that tendency might have come in handy on the hunt or in battle, it can backfire in modern life.

The impact is real. Research from Harvard and the American Psychological Association has shown that men are more likely to experience social isolation as they age; one in five men reports having no close friends.

When emotional needs go unspoken, relationships can begin to fray. And loneliness isn't just an emotional issue, it's a health risk. According to researchers at Brigham Young University, chronic loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

That's why it's worth making the effort.

Father's Day can be the nudge we need to start a conversation that's long overdue. All it takes is a simple question to break the silence, and what comes next might just bring you closer than you've ever been.

It's never too late — until it is

Dads can change. Mine did.

One of the moments I'll never forget came near the end of his life. He saw me kiss my brother goodbye and turned to me and asked, "Why did you stop kissing me?"

I froze for a second. "I didn't think you'd want me to," I told him. "I thought that was just something kids did."

I felt awful, realizing I had made an assumption about what he wanted. But I'm grateful he spoke up and used his power of connection. That one question changed the trajectory of our relationship.

It reminded me how often we hold back, not because we don't care, but because we're unsure how our words or gestures will be received. That's the challenge so many of us face: learning to say what we feel before the window closes.

Last year on my podcast, I spoke with Topaz Adizes, founder of The Skin Deep, a project dedicated to helping people have deep, transformative conversations. Over the past decade, he's facilitated thousands of them, including his own honest exchange with his father.

His advice is simple and urgent: Don't wait. Say what needs to be said. Ask the questions you've been meaning to ask. Start the conversation now before it becomes a memory of what could have been. Be like my Dad: Use your power.

A Father's Day challenge

This Father's Day, I invite you to take a moment — whether it's with your dad, stepdad, grandfather, uncle, mentor, coach, or any father figure in your life — and begin a conversation. It doesn't have to be profound or perfectly worded. Just make it honest.

And to all the Amazing Dads out there: Try to be ready to receive it. Your response does not need to be perfect. Sometimes your kids want to open up, but they just don't know how to start. So meet them halfway. Start the conversation for them. Make it easier for them to connect.

Let's help each other bridge the silence on Father's Day and every day after. Here's to making your connections with dad amazing.

All the best,

Jim

"I told my husband he could leave — I had just been diagnosed with an incurable pain disease less than a year into our marriage… but he stayed. And that's when I decided I was going to fight, not just for me, but for everyone like me."

On this week's Celebrate Your Story podcast, I sit down with Beth Stillitano, a former teacher whose life was turned upside down at just 24 years old after a seemingly minor fall led to a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and excruciating neurological disease.

Beth shares her emotional journey through years of pain, misdiagnoses, and opioid dependency, and how she eventually found healing through therapy, mindfulness, and community. But her story doesn't end with survival, it's about purpose. Beth went on to co-found Fight the Flame, a national nonprofit supporting CRPS patients, caregivers, and medical professionals. Her mission: to make sure no one faces this invisible illness alone.

Build a new ritual with your Amazing Dad

Every Father's Day, I look forward to a small but meaningful ritual: taking a photo with my granddaughter under the same tree in my backyard. We started it when she was just a baby, and each year, that photo captures not only how much she's grown but also how our bond has deepened.

It got me thinking: Are there other families out there who do something similar? Do you also take a picture in the same spot? Or perhaps maybe a walk around the block. A favorite meal shared year after year. These simple rituals become the things we remember most.

If you have a Father's Day photo ritual (or any special way you mark the day), I'd love to see it. Feel free to share it, and I may include a few in next week's Celebrations Pulse.

And if you haven't started one yet, maybe this is the year to start. Our friends at Harry & David have put together 15 meaningful ways to celebrate Father's Day. Whether it's going for a hike or enjoying a shared hobby, there's no wrong way to honor our Amazing Dads.

Don't forget your Amazing Dad

If you've made it this far in today's letter, I'm guessing you already have next Sunday circled, but life is full of meaningful moments beyond Father's Day. His birthday, your parents' anniversary, or even the day he retired are the big and little chances we get to show we're thinking of him.

As we head into Father's Day, I invite you to add your Amazing Dad to your Celebrations Reminders. You'll get a gentle nudge before each important occasion so you can reach out with a call, a message, or even a gift that says what words sometimes can't.

A simple reminder can help turn all occasions into memories.

Making the most of summer, one peach at a time

Summer never seems long enough. One minute we're lighting sparklers and flipping burgers, and the next we're buying back-to-school supplies. That's why I've always believed in making the most of every warm evening and every bite of something fresh and sweet.

One of the ways I try to stretch out summer is by savoring its flavors. Peaches, in particular, are a kind of seasonal magic. Bite into a good one and time slows down. It's summer, distilled.

This year, we're giving peach lovers even more reasons to celebrate. Through a new partnership between Harry & David and The Peach Truck, we're now offering early-season Georgia peaches alongside our own Oregold harvest later this summer. More fruit, more moments to enjoy, and there's no need to wait for peak season to enjoy peak flavor.

In my house, this news is especially welcome. Every summer, my wife, Marylou, shifts gears from her fall ritual of baking apple pies to peach pies. It's a small seasonal transition that signals summer has truly arrived. The scent of peaches in the kitchen, the sound of the oven door creaking open… those are the moments that linger.

But this isn't just about fruit. In my family, food is how we celebrate the season, and each other. Whether it's a communal backyard cookout or a potluck picnic at the park, food becomes the excuse to share stories and deepen bonds.

These rituals of eating together and telling stories over dessert (especially slices of Marylou's peach pie!) are what make summer feel full, no matter how fast it flies by.

World Oceans Day: A reminder and a responsibility

Each year on June 8, people across the globe come together for World Oceans Day. It's an important moment to reflect on the incredible role our oceans play in sustaining life and the responsibility we share to protect them.

Our oceans give us so much: They help regulate the climate, provide livelihoods for millions, and are a vital source of food for billions more. But they're also under growing threat from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. That's why this global occasion, first recognized by the United Nations in 2008, is so important.

At 1-800-Flowers.com, we're proud of the work our family of brands is doing to make a positive impact. Vital Choice, our premium seafood brand, recently connected with Emily Wyatt of the Marine Stewardship Council to explore how everyday decisions — like choosing sustainably sourced seafood — can help protect and preserve our oceans. You can read more here.

Fish and seafood are a key part of healthy diets worldwide, but that'll be true for only as long as we care for the resource that provides them. When we make thoughtful choices, we help ensure the ocean remains a thriving source of life for us and future generations.

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Is Your Dad the Silent Type?

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