Dave Walker - "Mondays Don't Have to Suck"

Dave Walker lived a life that might be familiar to anyone trapped in the rat race, making good money and surrounding himself with "stuff", but fundamentally unhappy with his work, using alcohol as a coping mechanism, and disturbed by the person staring back at him in the mirror. What might not be so familiar is Dave's trajectory out of this spiral: re-examining his upbringing, leaving his work situation and starting a new company, investing more time with his children, and re-inventing himself... all in the shadow of a harrowing car accident.  Please join me as we journey with Dave through his transformation, and discover the different legs of the metaphorical stool that supports him. 

Here is a breakdown of our discussion: 

01:03 - Dave's origin story, where he talks about his way out of clinical depression and alcoholism. 

03:36 - His Six-Legged Stool model for life. 

04:51 - Our children are the catalyst for change. 

07:02 - Knowing your love languages. 

08:03 - Little changes adding up to big improvements. 

08:37 - The different parenting styles between Dave's Mom and Dad. 

09:32 - Not liking the face looking back in the mirror. 

10:20 - Reparenting yourself when your parents haven't given you the tools to cope with life. 

11:57 - A Harvard degree in suppressing your feelings. 

12:53 - Dave reconnecting with his Mom. 

14:20 - Being in touch with your feelings is not being emasculated. 

16:56 - The Universe speaks: Dave gets into a terrible car wreck. 

17:45 - Dave's Mom continues to plant seeds, even after her passing. 

18:46 - Giving your kids the gift of knowing you trust them to be okay. 

19:45 - As opposed to parenting from fear. 

22:35 - Giving your kids "The Talk" when you never got one. 

23:04 - Guys don't cry. 24:16 - Using movies as crying therapy. 

26:03 - enJOY life. 

27:00 - Savour your relationships. 

28:50 - Using alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

30:33 - We're only human. We're bound to make mistakes. 

31:20 - Trust in yourself. 

32:05 - Passing the values you learned from a parent to your own kids. 

32:58 - People are gonna “should” all over you. 

33:55 - Courage isn't not being afraid. Courage is being afraid and still going forward. 

34:48 - From Captain Comfort Zone to Captain Courageous. 36:02 - Why we fear the things we fear. 

37:14 - Big thinker vs. big feeler. 

40:23 - Judging your father when the blinders come off. 

42:17 - Saying "I love you" to an emotionally stunted father. 

44:04 - Dave downsizing, but he'd rather connect with people than with stuff. 

45:00 - Working hard and being paid well is a powerful and addictive drug. 

46:38 - “Feeling Dave” is keeping an eye on the life compass. 

49:12 - Dave's final advice to parents: Trust your kids and learn their love languages.

#MondaysDontHavetoSuck #DaveWalker #SherryYuanHunter #sandwichparenting  #parentlife #motherhood #fatherhood #cptsd #recovery #selfcare

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