—of my friends. I was equally astonished by how much smarter my father seemed.
All through this process, I kept sending in my thought cards. Later, I took another course with this unique teacher. I worked harder for him than I had in any other class I had ever taken. With each thought card came more unsettling questions for thought.
Several years later, I was astounded at my own progress. From a struggling, marginal student I became a successful student and then a successful high school teacher. I went from constant anger and constant avoidance of the necessary work in my life to someone who was energized, excited, purposeful and even joyful.
My relationship with my father also improved dramatically. Instead of controlling, now I saw him as concerned and caring. I recognized that he didn’t have “smooth” ways of pa*****ng me but that his intentions were very loving. The fights diminished and finally disappeared. I learned to see my father as a smart, wise and loving man. And it all started with a question, an innocent-seeming question.