My son came to me and said, “I deleted my video games

My son came to me and said, “I deleted my video games.” I asked why. He said, “I’m sick of them. They feel like a waste of time.”

So I asked, “Describe that feeling.” Because I want him to feel it, to anchor that dissatisfaction deep into his bones. To make it part of who he is.

He said, “It just feels like I’m not building anything that lasts. Like nothing is real.”

And I told him, “You’re right. It’s not real. That’s the truth of it. Video games give you the illusion of adventure, of utility, of meaning, but none of it lasts. None of it’s real.”

He said, “I should use my time for something more productive. I could make something. Do something.” I nodded. “Yes.”

Then he said, “I feel kind of sad that I wasted so much time.” I said, “That sadness is normal. It’s the emptiness that comes from not producing anything. You’re becoming a man now, and men can’t feel fulfilled unless they’re building something real. Creating. Contributing. Producing value. That’s your soul calling out for purpose. Same as hunger or thirst.”

“What do I do about it?” he asked.

I told him, “Once you get back to painting, sculpting, writing, back to school, back to building your life, that emptiness will go away. You’ll feel useful again. You’ll feel alive again.”

He thanked me for listening to him. And now he’s adjusting. No more games. Back to reality. Back to meaning.

He is currently on the treadmill getting some exercise.