Arm Wrestling w/ My Father Reflection

Prior to reading Arm Wrestling with My Father, I never thought much about how my dad and I communicated. I do not recall having too many deep conversations with my dad, tending to have more of them with my mom. My dad and I often showed our love for each other through non-verbal means - sharing a laugh, playing sports, exchanging gifts on holidays. On the other hand, my mom and I shared more of the opposite, we would joke a lot and I felt like I had a stronger bond with my mom than my dad. After reading the piece, I realized how important these seemingly trifle moments were in shaping the relationship my dad and I share. Majority of my childhood was spent playing tennis with my dad, and now tennis is one of the main subjects we talk about. Even if this bond is not the stereotypical loving relationship, I still feel the warmness that my dad carries. I've started to appreciate more of the finer details as I grow up, as Manning did with his physical relationship with his father. In the end, I've come to understand that the relationship with both my parents have equally shaped my life. I realize that many of the seemingly unimportant moments in my life have come to strongly impact who I am now - that small compliment made become more confident in myself like how that dismissive comment caused me to shy away. Manning tells an important life lesson in the sense that we should appreciate everything for what it's worth while we can, because we become filled with regret once it's gone.