Faith, Family & Focus
From spiritual exploration to kangaroo chases, a reflection on distraction, identity, and what it means to show up—for yourself, your partner, and your little one.
Have you ever had one of those weeks where the real struggle wasn’t the work, but just staying present enough to do it?
That was me this week, heading into Easter weekend. The workload itself wasn’t overwhelming—but mentally, I was all over the place. Focus was hard to come by. Every time I tried to power through and force productivity, I only felt more out of sync. It’s a weird paradox, right? The more we push, the more resistance we feel. And while I’m proud of the growth I’ve made over the past couple of years, this week didn’t feel like my strongest showing.
But that’s where one of my quieter goals for the year came into play: acceptance.
Not just the feel-good kind, but the kind that actually stretches you. The kind that requires you to see yourself and others for who they are, without trying to reshape everything to fit your expectations.
For me, that’s shown up in small but intentional ways—like how I refer to my partner instead of wife. It’s a deliberate choice. Not because I’m rejecting tradition, but because I don’t want to confine how I talk about love or relationships to a single mold. I want to widen the lens. And honestly? It’s taken me a long time to even want to learn how to do that.
Then Friday came. And instead of trying to “catch up” on a lost workweek, I gave myself permission to pause. I watched a Baptist Christian Good Friday service from home. Not out of routine, but curiosity. Reverence. I’m learning to appreciate what these moments mean—not just in a religious sense, but in a philosophical and human one. It’s been years since I allowed myself to think about Easter that way. But now, as a dad, I want to be able to explain it to my son. And not just from one perspective. I want to share the richness of traditions, stories, and meanings—Christian or otherwise.
That journey of understanding starts with me. And maybe, if you’ve felt distracted or disconnected lately, it could start with you too. What would happen if, instead of pushing harder, you simply let yourself listen more? Accept more? Learn more?
Sometimes the most meaningful progress doesn’t come from plowing through. It comes from stepping back.
To go along with my own learning this week, came some important learning through my partner as well.
Last week, we celebrated Vaisakhi, a meaningful holiday in Sikhism that we’re beginning to explore more deeply together. My partner is Sikh, and while I’ve always respected and appreciated that part of her identity, I’ll admit there are pieces I’ve never taken the time to fully understand—until recently.
One of those pieces is her name: Kaur.
We’ve been married for over 11 years now, and while I knew that Singh and Kaur are traditionally used to reflect equality among Sikh men and women, I hadn’t gone deeper than that. It was only this week—after she sent me an Instagram post breaking down the true meaning and power behind Kaur—that it really clicked.
And no, Kaur and core are not the same thing.
That post opened up something for me. It wasn’t just about a name; it was about identity, history, and strength. It helped me see my partner with new eyes, and also reflect on how we’re shaping our son’s identity as he grows up in a multi-faith, multicultural home.
When we got married, we didn’t share a last name. It wasn’t a deliberate rejection of tradition—it was more logistical, honestly. We were deep in the U.S. immigration process at the time, and changing names felt like a mountain we didn’t need to climb. By the time we were through it, we’d moved on to other things that mattered more.
But our son carries a little of both of us. His middle name is deeply reflective of Sikhism, chosen with great care and intention. And yes, he carries my last name too. That combination—of heritage, belief, and shared meaning—feels like the most authentic representation of our journey.
This week reminded me that identity isn’t static. It evolves. And when you’re open to learning—not just from books or traditions, but from the people closest to you—you begin to see just how much depth there is in the everyday.
So let me ask: When was the last time you asked your partner (or even yourself) about something you’ve always assumed you understood?
Sometimes, a single Instagram post can shift your entire perspective.
If you’ve been following along in this ever-evolving Dad Diary journey, you may remember that back in December, we made a big move to live closer to my family. With my partner’s side of the family still based in India (although my mother-in-law does currently stay with us), her loved ones wanted us to have some local support. Traditionally, in a Punjabi family like hers, she would live with my parents—but anyone familiar with Western dynamics knows that might not go over too smoothly.
So, we compromised. We’re now just over a mile (or 1.609 kilometers for my non-U.S. folks) from my parents. Close enough to be supported, far enough to breathe. It’s a more rural setting—complete with a nearby farm, a clay shooting range, and plenty of wide open space.
This Easter weekend gave us a moment to enjoy all of that. We went on an egg hunt adventure with wild turkeys, alpacas, and even had a kangaroo chasing our stroller at one point. My son, Jasper, had a blast—though let’s be honest, it was his daddy and mommy doing most of the egg grabbing. The day ended with ice cream (as all great days should), and we wrapped up the weekend with a Sunday visit to Grandma’s house for good food and family time.
It’s moments like these—messy, funny, imperfect, and meaningful—that remind me: growth doesn’t always look like progress. Sometimes, it looks like presence.
You can check out some photos from our wild Easter adventure here.
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