The Company We Keep: Lessons from my Bunny

The Company We Keep is a column on the CN&CO blog that profiles some of the most interesting people in our networks. Here we share the details of the lives of people we know, showcasing the extraordinary diversity of our society and proving that people truly are at the heart of everything we do.

By Gianluca Tucci

Looking back on this past year, no company has kept my attention and appreciation more than that of my daughter, Ariana. In this journey of fatherhood, only six months in, my daughter, also known as AriBunny, has become the most influential presence in my life.

The power of this human connection

Her arrival has awoken a relentless power of connection. Teaching me about love, growth and the essence of being present in every moment (as a parent, husband, director, son, brother, friend and more).

Each day that rises and sets, unfolds like a chapter in a beautiful story. They are filled with small yet significant milestones.

Her first roll.
The glee of her first taste of solids.
Her infectious smile (particularly as she wakes).
Her contagious laughter.
The sight of her feeding herself a bottle using her tiny, determined hands (which happened this past weekend).

These moments of growth are not just markers of her development but are beacons of inspiration, reminding me of the beauty and wonder of life’s simplest pleasures and strides.

Priority and presence

In the mornings and evenings, when I try (strictly) to dedicate my time solely to Ari, I experience the true essence of being present. This is a time when the rest of the world fades into the background, and all that matters is the connection between us.

The teamwork between me and my wife in raising our daughter reinforces the importance of collaboration, understanding and shared purpose, values that are equally significant in the professional realm and other areas of life.

“The best part is watching them grow,
the worst part is watching them grow.”

Reading this hit deep, especially in the company of witnessing her development each day. Every new skill she acquires is a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of absorbing every moment. In her eyes, we are her guiding pillar, yet she mirrors that role for me, offering a fresh perspective and a rejuvenation of energy, body, and mind.

Her curiosity and eagerness to learn and absorb the world around her are a constant source of inspiration. Perhaps at times, this is the approach we need to take when things have hit light speed around us. A moment to dial back to where it all began. To look at the world and moments around us as if for the first time.

How would you perceive them?
Differently?
Diversely?
Perhaps, even more beautifully?

The significance of time

Balancing my role as a father with my professional responsibilities has not been without its challenges. Yet, it has made me more conscious of how I allocate my time, making sure that each moment is spent meaningfully, whether it’s in nurturing my daughter or in steering my tasks and professional goals towards success and growth.

As we approach the end of another year, a time for reflection and gratitude, I urge others to take a moment to appreciate the company around them. Cherish the small moments, the everyday milestones and the people who make our lives richer and more fulfilling. In the whirlwind of life’s demands, it’s these connections that ground us, inspire us and remind us of what truly matters.

AriBunny, my little guiding light, has taught me more about life, love and leadership in a short space of time than I could ever have imagined.