The Truth About Gurus

One good one makes up for a world of phonies.

Photo by Francesca Saraco from Burst

Imagine this: every night, I’m reading a book. The dog is at my feet. It’s a peaceful evening. And then — a 5' 4" redhead full of pointed energy struts into the room, arms held up by her face, ripping a piece of string back and forth through her teeth with all the intensity she can possibly muster.

This was the scene every night when Kate was trying to nag me into flossing.

I didn’t like having a mouth full of blood. Was that so bad?No matter how many times Kate asked me, I could never make it happen.

This all changed, however, one night at a bowling alley. Each Father’s Day, my brother and I join my dad to knock down pins and talk until our hands cramp and our throats ache. Somewhere in the rambling discussions of America’s future, each of our net worths, funeral planning (even though nobody is dying), and general longevity, my dad said these five words.

“Oh, wow. You don’t floss?”

I haven’t missed a night since.

Ethos matters

“Everyone needs an idol, someone who represents a higher plateau of truth and knowledge.” — Niles Crane