Episode 221 - Out of Place but Learning to Balance, What a Post Turtle Can Teach A Dad
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves as human post turtles. Maybe it’s that coworker who somehow got promoted to manager and you’re scratching your head wondering how. Or that pop star who’s suddenly the face of everything, but can’t carry a tune in a bucket. The idea is the same—they didn’t get there on their own. Someone lifted them up, put them there, and now they’re just trying to figure out what to do with it.
As dads, we get it. None of us really “earned” fatherhood through a test or certification. One day we were just placed there—sometimes ready, often not. Suddenly, we’re balancing on this narrow post called “Dad Life,” looking down, hoping we don’t fall, wondering who thought this was a good idea anyway.
But here’s the thing about post turtles: even though they didn’t get up there on their own, they’re there now. And like us, they have two choices—freeze up and panic, or adapt and learn to balance. That’s the heart of the dad journey. We might not have all the answers, but we learn on the post. We lean on other dads. We adjust our footing. And maybe, we even learn to enjoy the view from up there.
Reflection Segment
So, who put you on your post? Maybe it was your partner, your parents, your kids, or maybe life itself. The truth is, we’ve all had help. And that’s not something to hide—it’s something to honor. Every dad who’s ever rocked a newborn at 3 AM, every dad who’s shown up to a recital or a soccer game after a long week, every dad trying to be present—each one is a post turtle in his own way. We didn’t get here alone, and we’re not staying balanced by ourselves either.
Next time you feel like a post turtle—awkward, unsure, maybe out of place—remember: it’s normal. You’re not alone on that fence post, and there’s a whole community of dads out here cheering you on, helping you find your balance.
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music provided by Blue Dot Sessions
Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270
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