Thanks, Dad
My Dad’s Dad died when he was five.
He didn’t have a Dad to teach him how to be a Dad.
He started from scratch and he figured it out.
As a Dad myself, that is something I refuse to take for granted.
At my Grandmother’s funeral, I got the chance to meet a lot of people who hadn’t seen me since I was just a few years old. There was one conversation I’ll never forget.
I was talking to one of my Dad’s old college buddies, and he was going on and on about what my Dad was like back in the day.
He said my Dad always had this “unexplainable cool factor” about him, that he had an enviable artistic talent, and that he was quite the party animal 😂
After a few more laughs, he said something I’ll never forget:
“You know, everything changed when you were born.”
He continued.
“Your Dad stopped partying.”
“He stopped hanging out with the guys.”
“He put his head down and worked harder than anyone else in school.”
“You changed him.”
Every time I think about that conversation, I get a little emotional.
I was born when my Dad was 19.
The odds were stacked against him.
No one made him do anything.
He chose to embrace the situation.
He chose to lean into adversity.
He chose to rise to the occasion.
His decision shifted his legacy and an entire lineage.
I love my Dad.
I also admire my Dad.
Love is a very powerful emotion, but it’s different than admiration.
Admiration is a feeling of high regard, respect, and appreciation for someone’s qualities and achievements.
The list of people I love is very long.
The list of people I admire is much shorter.
My Dad is at the top of both lists.
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