forever forward and fatherhood
A lot of people ask us where the idea for “Forever Forward” came from. Well, this is the origin story.
When we were first conceptualizing this brand that would become Rhone, we each had tender experiences with fatherhood. One of us had a baby in the prenatal unit for nearly 3 months, another with two kids at home suffered a near death experience, and yet another, after a struggle with infertility found out he and his wife were expecting their first child.
Life’s ups and downs drive us to turn to sources of inspiration for comfort and reassurance. For us, a poem by the American Icon, Walt Whitman, became a North Star.
This seminal work is entitled, Song of the Open Road, contains these immersive invitations to just keep going. Whitman promises that a rewarding life is one lived with hope in the heart and a perspective fixed on the present.
He closes the poem with “Forever alive, forever forward, the road lies before us.” We knew then and there that those lines would be a part of Rhone forever.
As men, and most especially as fathers, we embrace the idea that life is all about moving forward. Learning from past failures, hoping for a bright future, and finding beauty in present progress.
To quote Whitman, “The past, the future, majesty, love - if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.”
Thank you for joining us on this open road, we hope this serves as a reminder to keep moving Forever Forward.
Happy Fathers Day from all of us at Rhone.
– Ben Checketts, Rhone Creative Director and Co-Founder
What does fatherhood look and feel like for Ben? In honor of Fathers Day, here's a glimpse into how our Co-Founder approaches fatherhood.
What is one thing your father taught you that has resonated with you?
My Dad taught me to pair the art of dreaming with the discipline of constancy. He always visualized successes and worked hard until those dreams were realized. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” There is this underlying assumption that things will work out, but I believe that comes from having a vision and working towards it, no matter what stands in your way.
If your children and grandchildren remember you for one thing, what do you hope it will be?
I hope they remember how much I love them, that my words and actions align to show each and every day that they are in my heart.
If you could teach your kids one thing, what would it be?
To listen. It is a skill that we in large part do not have, to listen, learn and ask questions. I hope to show them by example that I can listen to others. Especially when they have differing opinions or beliefs to mine.
What do you enjoy most about being a dad?
Purpose. I love having this intense, singular focus on being a great parent to my children and partner to my wife. It’s so fulfilling, but it is hard.
What’s one song you hope your kids will think of you when they hear?
“No Hard Feelings” by the Avett Brothers
Is there another father you know such as a friend or a relative that you feel a bond toward? Someone you’d go to for advice?
I have so many examples that I look towards to teach me about being a father. But once a month I sit down with two of my closest friends, Steve Guynn and Paul Belnap, to talk about life, fatherhood, faith and so many other things. This is a sacred time for me, it’s soul expanding and incredibly insightful, they are both much better men than me. I think it’s essential to have those circles in your life, whether you’re a Dad or not. I trust them implicitly and we just talk for an hour, giving and taking advice. I love it.
