Father’s Day is June 17th this year, and for the 70-plus million dads among us, it’s a day for celebrating, grilling, and spending time with family. It takes more than firing up a grill to make a father; great dads light a fire in us. The lessons we learn from dads impact who we are and who we become and influence both personal and professional success. Although a lot of the credit goes to mom, we can never underestimate the power that dads have in shaping who we are.
“My dad has given me the best gift anyone has ever given me. He gave me wings to fly” – Adria Arjona
Speak up
Dad is not usually the mind reader of the household. But he is often the first to say that if we don’t speak up, we aren’t going to get what we want or find what we’re looking for. It is an important lesson that encourages us to voice our opinions whenever necessary and continues to help us get more out of personal and professional relationships. Although it can be challenging to speak up, dads tell us that we deserve to be heard.
“My dad raised me with some good advice: ‘Always tell the truth. Always shoot from the hip. You might not have many friends, but you’ll never have enemies, because people will always know where you’re coming from.’” – Pink
Never give up
Dads are with us every step of the way, teaching us to ride bikes, brushing the dirt off scraped knees and encouraging one more try even when it takes all day. They teach us not only how to drive but to get right back behind the wheel after our first accident. We may not be falling off our trikes anymore, but life has a habit of providing a few bumps in the road. The belief that we can persevere and succeed is well-ingrained from the examples our fathers set. It is a dad’s determination that teaches us to get back up when we fall, to continue to try until we succeed, and to be ourselves every step of the way. Dads encourage us never to give up by never giving up themselves.
“Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow. ~Reed Markham
Take the Chance
Dads give us the freedom to explore our dreams – and to pursue them. Whether we’re bucking tradition or breaking rules, dads are there to cheer us on and help us create a better world. Even when we don’t notice their support (or don’t appreciate it) dads are in our corner, cheering us on and helping to smooth our way forward.
“When my father didn’t have my hand, he had my back.” Linda Poindexter
Pay It Forward
What we learn from our dads is incorporated into who we become. Strength, kindness, perseverance, and fortitude propel us forward as we pursue our dreams and help to make us the kind of people our own children look up to and look to for love and support. Even as our kids benefit from knowing their grandfathers, we discover how much of our dads we have in us when we’re out in the world.
“What you teach your children, you also teach their children.”
Happy Father’s Day!
