In his debut book, “Dad’s Notes,” Jason Davis offers practical wisdom for young adults to utilize as they step into their next season of life, and he does so with a foundation in his faith in God.
Throughout the book, readers are tasked with taking time to reflect. In fact, Davis poses several questions at the end of each chapter along with space to answer these questions, jot down notes or mark key takeaways.
I found several chapters to be very interesting, the first of which is the first chapter, “Plate Spinning.”
Four vital areas
In this chapter, Davis tackles an issue that some might liken to the idiom “biting off more than you can chew.” He opens with an illustration of a man spinning plates on the tops of poles and running around keeping them all intact.
He suggests that of all the plates we can spin, four are vital: faith, family, fitness and finance. It was his guidance on how not to lose control of those primary plates that I related to most.
As a college student, I have a lot of aspirations and goals I want to achieve that are not necessarily vital to my well-being or relationships, and I get discouraged when I don’t get around to doing those things. I found Davis’ advice to forget about the other unnecessary plates until the primary four are in good shape to be very helpful.
When we lose sight of what is most important, we often lose control. When we keep what matters in our sights, the things of little importance don’t seem so big anymore, and we can find peace and joy in the things that our lives should be centered around.
Our way is not ‘the only way’
Jumping ahead, the eighth chapter — “I Did It My Way … Sometimes” — also offered wisdom that resonated with me.
A couple of key points stood out the most. The first is that our way is not — and should not always be — the only way. It is wise to listen and consider the thoughts and opinions of others around us, especially when the decision at-hand affects them as well.
This bit of wisdom aligns with Proverbs 15:31 (and plenty of other verses throughout biblical wisdom literature): “The ear that heeds wholesome admonition will lodge among the wise” (NRSV).
I think this verse applies to both smaller decisions and larger ones. When we listen to others regarding small matters like where to eat dinner, we keep the peace. And, as Davis touches on, when we listen to others and to God when it comes to larger decisions, we are more likely to be steered in the proper direction.
Something for everyone
Overall, “Dad’s Notes” is complete with wisdom that I believe anyone — including nonbelievers — can relate to. It offers something that everybody can borrow from and apply in their daily routines no matter how young or old they may be.
The book is available at Amazon here. Find out more at dadsnotesbook.com.
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