January 13, 2012 11:35 PM

As a parent, nothing is more rewarding than knowing you’re your child’s hero. Between us, Geraldine has a monopoly of such priceless distinction. But last week, something of rarity happened that I think would make me every Dad’s object of envy.

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About a week or two ago, I was on a 3-day-2-night trip of a 3-point agenda that got me shuffling hats: being one of the judges in a bikini open contest (how did that happen?), staying with John (a Buddhist Monk friend) and meditating for a day...lemme say that again: an entire day! (the salient point of the event) and giving a talk on the Internet’s spirituality to college students who do not use the Internet other than to stupefy themselves on facebook.

Being away from work which can be likened to days without water, much of what I needed to do remained undone (for two reasons I was dragged to). And when I got back, I was petulant...more so than I normally am.

Meanwhile, Una, since I got back, has been “too cute” for my patience, telling me at least seven times a day that she‘s already packed and showing me her a list of things she packed. Then came the weekened, when I hoped to get things done in solitude (I wish I could do it at will...finding inner peace amidst chaos but I’ve yet to reach that enlightenment). And when Una’s cuteness turned to pestering, I snapped at her.

It wasn’t what I said that put her in her place. It was what I didn’t say. I gave her the look, turned my back and closed the door in a manner that unequivocally meant “leave me alone”.

Things worsened. Not only was I bothered by what I did to my adorable Mini-Me, I could hear her from my home office grunting in exasperation and the sound of the video game. How could you get started with that?

I went to her. Had it been anything she’s disinterested in, Una would have reminded me in no uncertain terms that I hurt her feelings. But she’s overly competitive (she’s really my own) that she’d rather put that behind and ask for help. So I asked “What’s wrong?”

“Daddy, I can’t go to Level 3 because it gets so hard on Level 2” she replied with a hint of despondence.

Not only do I not cotton to it, my knowledge of today’s video games is nil, zero...NOTHING, I suck at it. But this I told Una (in a way that’s intelligible to her):

“This moment builds up to the next. And that to the next. You are worried about what to do at the destination tomorrow when you have not even taken a step today. The world is a reflection of our thoughts. Its creation. So, be here now. There is nothing to do but to be, to be conscious. There is no other place but here. And the only time we have is now. Now is eternal. Yesterday, today and tomorrow are happening all at the same time. What/where you put your attention on creates the moment in yesterday, today or tomorrow. Have your attention only here and now. You are your attention. Focus.”

Then I saw her take deep breaths. After starting on the same level, Una got past level 2. On level 3 she only stayed there for two more tries. Then, level after level seemed a cake walk as she pumped/pulled her fist ala Tiger Woods.

I went back to work.

Moments later, an ebullient Una followed and, without knocking, opened the door (whenever she does this, I normally would have asked her to step out and knock on the door) but there was something in her eyes as she said “Wow Daddy! you’re like magic. You watched and sat there next to me and I did so great! Thanks”. She kissed me as she walked out. And didn’t close the door.

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Words exist because of meaning. I think the word Una was looking for was inspired or inspiration but I wish our ancestors didn’t invent too many words. I wish people do not build pride as they mature or at least they do no let it get in the way to say what’s just on their heart. Words from the mind could be logical but words from the heart are indeed magical.

Today is Una’s birthday. We threw her a bash at school, got her fave dress, scheduled a vacation of her choice...the whole shebang parents would gift a child.

But that “moment” was the moment. It was Una’s gift to me.

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