Rites of Passage: Opening the Door Into Manhood with Bill Winchester

We are discussing rites of passage. This is something that is needed in our culture. My guest today is Bill Winchester and I wanted to bring him on because this subject is a must in today’s society. Bill and I talk about why a rite of passage is important, the things that are most meaningful for these young men to experience when they are going through a rite of passage.  As far back as he can remember, Bill’s life has been a mix of hard work and the pursuit of fun adventures. His parents, who both experienced difficult and even tragic upbringings, married young and quickly set about doing the best they could to raise a family. But it’s hard to build anything solid on broken foundations. Growing up as the firstborn son, Bill embraced his role of leader and protector for his two younger sisters. And as he watched his parents struggle to overcome the challenges of their childhoods while raising kids of their own, he learned first hand how important healthy families are for the future of our world. Just before starting high school Bill met a cute girl named Christie, and seven years later they were married. Within months of getting married Bill started his own remodeling company and then he and Christie learned that they were going to be parents sooner than they had planned. Fast forward 22 years, and Bill’s life has been full with one daughter, two sons, years of watching theater performances, coaching football and baseball, and taking his family on adventures wherever he can find them. Over the last few years, as his children have grown more capable and less dependent, Bill has felt an increasing urgency to help other fathers prepare their children to successfully transition into healthy manhood (and womanhood). And so, after 25+ years of building spaces, Bill is setting out on a new adventure as a builder of peak moments and HEROIC Men. As this episode is releasing, he is facilitating his first Father and Son Rite of Passage in the Deschutes National Forest outside of beautiful Bend, Oregon. If you’re interested in learning more about the importance of Rites of Passage, Bill would love to connect with you and even has a book he’d like to give to you and your son. Just email him at [email protected] and put the word Initiation in the subject line. Show Notes:  www.thedadedge.com/friday66