Our lives are constantly shaped by those we love, but the impact our parents have on our personal life is quite impressive. It took me years to realize how much my parents opinions and support mean to me. In fact it was quite frightening to learn the depth of this need for approval. It was only after the withdrawal of support I began to realize how important it was. With this insight it became evident that this crossroads was where your adult life begun... when you reject the easy route, the accepted route, the supported route; when you can say "I respect your point of view, but I will not change my mind." This is where you follow your heart.
My father is a brilliant man. I have deep respect for him and the way he lives his life. He has inspired me, challenged me, infuriated me... and loved me unconditionally. He is always there for me, sometimes just to remind me I can handle it on my own. When I do foolish thing like locking myself out of my car, forgetting my keys somewhere, blowing out a tire on my way to an exam, flooding the basement with sewage etc. I can count on him to be calm and understanding... everything becomes a life lesson, which I am promptly informed of. He has shown me to look at all situations as opportunities to grow, "everyone has something to teach you, simply open your eyes".
But most importantly, he taught me how to dream BIG. In his words (some of his favorites collected over time), "The sky is the limit, if you realize even 5% of your dreams then you are doing good. You can do anything, go anywhere, be anyone you want to. People may try and bring you down and tell you that things are impossible or foolish, don't let them, grow thick skin and keep moving forward. There are two things no one can take away from you... your education, and your experience. Go experience the world, meet people and grow."
Thank you Dad.
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