Welcome to the Buddhist boot camp podcast.

Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life.

Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

Many years ago, as a teenager still living with my parents, I ran away from home when the

physical abuse became too much to bear. But despite being hurt and angry with both of them, I returned to the house the next day

while they were at work.

My sister had already moved out by that point, and I left a note on the fridge to let them

know I wasn't missing, so there was no need to call the cops.

I just didn't feel safe coming back.

When I called my dad a week later, he said,

I know I can't force you to move back in, but can you please come over so the three of us can

talk about this? And I remember the three of us sitting on the L-shaped couch, my mother on one side,

my dad in the middle, and me on the opposite corner, telling them how scared I was to return home.

My father listened and calmly said, I am sorry for losing my temper and taking it out on you.

It was wrong of me, and I apologize. After waiting my whole life to hear those words, I immediately

started crying. It's strange how I had grown accustomed to the abuse from both of them,

but never to the lack of remorse from either of them. He then said,

When you are ready, I would love for you to come back home, and I promise to never be violent

towards you again. Not to be overly dramatic or poetic, but I pictured scaps forming over the open wounds

on my heart, and I actually started believing for the first time that I might eventually

heal from all of this.

But then, my dad faced my mother and said, Okay, it's your turn to apologize to him,

...