Today, the third of May, I am flying back home after
three intensive consultancy days in Hamburg. Today is also the day on which my
dad, doctor Henry Donders, was born (121 years ago). He was a third child of a
family that grew to be a family with 11 children. His father was the
owner/director of a textile-factory in Tilburg. He was a strong figure who
loved to work hard, but who was also very well capable of enjoying his life.
Ones a year he used to take my father for a little trip to Brussels (remember:
still in a time where there were no cars). My dad often took me on similar
one-day trips across the country, and today I’m taking my kids on little trips
across Europe as well.
My father became a general practitioner in Kerkrade.
Where he mostly was attending to mine-workers that suffered from black lungs.
He continued his studies to become an ophthalmologist, and finally he became a
surgeon. He always loved being there for his patients. A colleague of his, Prof.
Zeeman, wrote me a letter when I was born: ‘Paul, I wish for you that you
become a great friend for many, like your father, who is a great friend for so
many.’
During the WOII my dad got imprisoned in the concentration-camp
of Vught for a year. His first wife died when he was 62 years old. Following,
he married my mother, with whom he got 3 more children. What an optimist. What
a hard worker. Yes, he worked until he was 75 years old.
If I look at his life, I can easily see how the 7 resilience-factors
were all very well developed within him. He was able to manage many a crises,
disappointment, challenge and change in a resolute and healthy way. For
instance, without his believe in the future I would have never been born.
Therefore I’m very grateful that he was the way the was!
My father, an example for me that life is so much more
than just worth it. And a great role-model in regard to resilience!
Thanks dad!
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