1 . Growing up, I understood one thing about my dad: He knew everything. I asked him questions and he gave me _________. When I moved out on my own, I usually called him when something broke and I needed to know how to _________ it.

But then, eventually, I _________ him less. I got married, and my husband had the _________ I was short of. I didn’t know when it happened, but our _________ when I called developed into six words. Me: “Hi, Dad.” Him: “Hi, sweetie. Here’s Mom.” There would be a(n) _________ if my mum wasn’t at home. I _________ loved my dad, but I wondered at times if maybe he had already _________ everything I needed to know.

Then, this past summer, my dad said that he once spent a summer in college building boats. “You did?” I asked. I thought I knew everything about my dad. However, I never knew this. I _________ that in the past 40 years, I had focused on myself only. I felt a deep sense of __________.

A few weeks later, I called my parents. Dad answered. “Hi, sweetie. Here’s Mom.,” he said.

__________ to know more about him, I said, “Wait, Dad. How are you?” We __________ talking about a new battery he’d bought for his boat. To anyone else, it would sound like a __________ conversation between a dad and his daughter. But to me, it was novel and a new __________. I spent the first part of my life needing to talk to my dad. Now I talk to him because I __________ to.

2 . How to Overcome Feeling of Guilt

Guilt can be a depressing feeling that prevents you from moving forward with your life.     1     However, this article will guide you through the process and help you move towards a positive future.

Identify what you feel guilty about. If you feel guilty about something, it is important to identify what you feel guilty about and why. Identifying the source of your guilt and why it makes you feel guilty can help you to determine if you are experiencing healthy or unhealthy guilt.     2    

Write about your feelings.     3     Start by writing down the reason that you feel guilty. If it was something you did or said to someone, describe what happened in as much detail as you can. Include in your description how this situation made you feel and why. What do you think that you should feel guilty about?

Apologize if necessary. Once you have understood your feelings, you can determine if you need to apologize for your actions.     4     It is important to take full responsibility for your actions in order to show your friend that you really do feel bad.

    5     Reaching out to others often helps the person who offers help as much as the person who receives it. Although you must understand that good deeds will not reverse your actions, they will help you move forward into a positive future.