EP#315 | DSD | Honoring Our Dad: 10 Years, Lessons, and Legacy

May 13

📌 Episode Overview

In Episode #315 of Deep Shallow Dive, Ray Doustdar sets aside politics and health talk to deliver a raw, emotional tribute to his Father Yahta Doustdar on the 10-year anniversary of his passing. What begins as a Mother's Day reflection transforms into a personal, heartfelt episode filled with memories, journal entries, life lessons, and the power of showing up. From grieving to growth, Ray shares what it means to lose a parent—and what it means to truly appreciate the ones we still have.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🧠 Time doesn’t always heal, but it softens. 10 years later, the pain still hits just as hard.
📞 Call your parents every day. If you have the time to scroll, you have the time to connect.
📖 Ray reads powerful life advice written by his Dad—both in English and Farsi
✍️ Reflections from a 2004 Iran journal capture one of Ray’s most meaningful moments with his father
💔 There's a difference between natural death and tragic death—and both teach us different kinds of empathy

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 – Mother’s Day Recap & 10-Year Anniversary of Our Dad’s Passing
03:14 – Why This Episode Is Different: A Personal, Raw Conversation
05:23 – Call Your Parents: A Message You Need to Hear
07:23 – Time Doesn’t Normalize Loss, It Creates a New Normal
10:04 – First Year Without Them: Big Days Hit the Hardest
12:16 – Tragic Deaths vs. Natural Deaths: Two Kinds of Grief
14:13 – Life Lessons from Our Dad’s Journal: 30 Nuggets of Wisdom
20:28 – The 2004 Iran Trip & One Unforgettable Act of Empathy
23:23 – Monday, May 10th, 2004: A Journal Entry Worth Revisiting
30:00 – What a Hospital Visit Taught Me About Character
32:48 – Your Parents Are Just Like You—Before They Were Parents
34:20 – What I Posted Online to Honor Our Dad
36:11 – One Final Message: Call Your Parents Today

📢🎙️ Conclusion & Call to Action

Whether you've lost someone or still have them, this episode is your reminder to pause, connect, and appreciate life. Subscribe at DeepShallowDive.com and call your parents today.

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🗝️ Keywords

Yahya Doustdar, Dad, Deep Shallow Dive, Ray Doustdar, Father's Day reflection, grief after a decade, losing a parent, call your parents message, life lessons from dad, journaling grief, Iranian heritage story, 10-year anniversary of loss, Mother's Day memories, natural death vs tragic death, empathy from loss, family connection, honoring your father, emotional podcast episode, legacy through journals, parental advice, journal reflections, grieving process, podcast therapy

🗂️ Categories

Personal Growth & Reflection
Grief & Family
Legacy & Life Lessons

🏷️ Tags

Yahya Doustdar
Parenting
Family Legacy

Ray Doustdar

Adding a new chapter to his diverse career, Ray now steps into the world of literature as an author, presenting his debut work, 'Deep Shallow Dive into You.' This book is a testament to his commitment to fostering personal growth and self-awareness.

Ray's venture into authorship extends his passion for meaningful communication and impact into writing, offering readers a transformative journey designed to cultivate a more authentic relationship with themselves.

Ray aims to connect with readers profoundly through his writing, sharing insights and strategies to help them uncover their true selves and live with unwavering authenticity and intention.

https://www.deepshallowdive.com