I feel like I don’t always give my dad the appreciation he deserves. He managed to raise three girls, which meant he had to deal with a lot of tears, boy problems, mood swings and PMSing over the years. I can’t count the number of times I have called him in the middle of a panic attack and he’s been there to talk me through it. I’m forever grateful for the times he’s driven to the grocery store to buy me tampons while I laid in the fetal position screaming about how boys have it so easy and being a girl sucks.
Aside from all the great things that he has done for me, he has also taught me some of the most valuable life lessons. So dad, thanks for everything you have done for me and for shaping me into the person I am now.
My dad has taught me to always keep striving the be the best that I could be. One of the most influential things he has ever told me was that he didn’t care what I wanted to do later in life; whether I was a teacher, social worker, doctor, lawyer or anything in between. He just wanted to make sure that I was the best at what I wanted to do. Having someone who expected me to get high grades and who pushed me to keep getting better used to drive me crazy in school but it turned me into the hardworking and ambitious person I am today.
(Photos courtesy of the author)
My dad taught me to always laugh at myself. No one is perfect and it makes life so much easier to find humor in your mistakes than it is to take everything too personally. Life is too short to spend it without laughing.
My dad taught me to do things outside of my comfort zone. Without his support, I would not have had the opportunities and adventures that have played such a big role in my life. I would not be as confident and independent as I am today. Without him, I never would have had the courage to leave my hometown for college or to study abroad in the Middle East. Without him pushing me to do things that scared me, I wouldn’t be sitting in the place I am now.
My dad taught me to be tough. You know when parents tell their kids to “just walk it off” after they hurt themselves playing sports? That has been my dad for everything in life. Sometimes it could be infuriating but it also taught me to not let things get me down. He taught me that life could be rough, and sometimes life wins but it is so much better to get up and keep pushing forward than it is to feel sorry for myself.
So dad, thanks for everything. Thanks for always being there when I need you and thanks for sending me corny jokes to brighten up my day. Most importantly, thanks for all the lessons you’ve taught me that have helped me become the person I am today.