Daniel’s Legacy In memory of Daniel Mills, a montly section called Daniel’s Corner will celebrate his legacy by dedicating the page to what he loved most: theatre. Here, we will introduce you to the students participating in the W. Daniel Mills Apprentice Program at the Garden Theatre and share more details about how this important program will positively affect young people in the arts within our community. By Harold and Rosy Mills
It’s not hard to find a parent eager to brag about their children and their accomplishments. It’s equally easy to find parents who describe their children as kind, friendly or someone who gets along with everyone. We, of course, are no different. Courageous Empathy There was always something a little different about our Daniel. It was this interesting combination of courage, intelligence, authenticity and empathy. I call it Courageous Empathy. Daniel understood that every human was flawed in some way. Maybe it was a physical flaw, maybe it was an emotional or character flaw, maybe it was a mental health challenge; no one was perfect. On one hand, that meant he idolized no one. He engaged you as an aspirant human. It was sometimes quite sobering. On the other hand, it meant he celebrated everyone. While some portend flaws should be “looked past” or even ignored, Daniel thought these flaws should be acknowledged, cared for, nurtured, fought for and even celebrated. Yes, celebrated. In his mind, the good and the bad, our strengths and our weaknesses is where our true authentic selves thrived, and that was worth fighting for. Even from a young age, when his sisters got in trouble, he would negotiate with us (the parents) on their behalf. While acknowledging their mistake, he would argue whether their punishments fit the crime. He wanted affirmation that they were being treated fairly.
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Central Florida Lifestyle | July 2021
