Now That’s Art
These gifts are priceless, given freely, and when you truly cherish them—oh my God, when you do—you’ll live a life full of meaning. For me, those smiles? That’s art.”

“Seeing a smile on your kids’ faces—that’s art.”
That’s not my quote, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. I watched the movie Goodrich (2024) while flying to New York City from Seattle this week, and the line is loosely adapted from something the main character, Andy Goodrich, says as he’s shutting down his art gallery. I liked the movie, but I loved that speech. It resonated deeply with me.
I’ve been fortunate to witness the birth of my three children and to cut the umbilical cord for each of them. Their mom now jokes that I’m responsible for that first act of separation. But in all seriousness, those three moments are among the most memorable of my life. I was also the one to give each of them their first bath at the hospital. I was nervous every single time, but the love and attachment I felt in those moments was unlike anything else.
I like to think my kids had a good childhood. We gave them what we could and focused on sharing experiences with them, even though they probably don’t remember most of them. We made plenty of mistakes along the way—what parents don’t? But my wife and I never backed down, even when we stumbled. We’ve always let our kids know we are there for them, unconditionally. Always.
A lot of time has passed since our youngest was born. He’s now about to finish high school, and in just a few years, he’ll be a young adult. I’m incredibly proud of all three of my children and who they’ve become. Parenting wasn’t without its mistakes or moments of pain, but I like to think we’ve done our job. Each of my kids is now in a position to pursue what they want in life and to enjoy their time here, with the people they care about. My only hope is that they choose to share some of that time and their lives with us.
Being a dad has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. No job, challenge, or family situation has been tougher. But nothing has been more rewarding than sharing the journey of parenthood with my wife, my greatest partner and friend.
Life is a wonderful thing, though I’ll admit I sometimes get distracted by “things” that aren’t nearly as important as family or human connection. Reflecting on it, the happiest times in my life have been when I’m surrounded by the people I love and care about. Spending time alone has helped me realize this, and while I’ll continue to carve out moments for myself to think and reflect, nothing compares to being with the ones who matter most.
I know it’s a cliché to say this, but it’s my truth. The “little” things in life are the most important things—but are they really so little? No, they’re not. These so-called “little” things are colossal. They’re the foundation of a fulfilling life.
For me, these things aren’t about work or possessions. They’re the things we can’t buy or control, the gifts we’re given for free. They’re simply there for us to acknowledge and cherish. And when you do—oh my God, when you do—you’ll live a truly fulfilling life.
The “little” things in life are what we crave when they’re gone. They’re the things that make us feel, cry, smile, and laugh. For some people, these might be things they create, like art. For others, it could be a garden they nurture every day or a peaceful walk on a spring afternoon.
For me, it’s the smiles on the faces of the people I love. Now that’s art.