E.208 When a Father's Death Shapes Who We Become

Send us a text Bruce Wasser shares his journey of losing his father at age 15 and how this profound loss shaped his decision to become a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War and ultimately led to his 33-year teaching career. • Growing up in Seattle with his father Joe, a WWII veteran who instilled values of teamwork, equality, and community • Devastating loss of his father to cancer just 14 months after diagnosis when Bruce was only 15  • Becoming an overachiever in school and sports as a response to grief • Drawing the draft lottery number 90 during Vietnam and applying for conscientious objector status • Finding surrogate father figures in coaches, professors, and public figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • Discovering his calling as a teacher where he could identify and connect with students who were hurting • Experiencing what his wife calls "post-traumatic growth" – becoming more empathetic through trauma • Suggestions for grieving on Father"s Day: share grief with others, write letters to your father, find meaningful places Please like, subscribe and follow this podcast on your favorite platform. A glowing review is always helpful and, as a reminder, this podcast is for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. Freed.ai: We’ll Do Your SOAP Notes! Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show YouTube Channel For The Podcast