It’s Father’s Day and of course our thoughts turn to that of our Dad. We’ve been posing questions to the followers of our
Facebook page all week, “What’s the biggest life lesson you learned from your dad?”
We received some great answers from the women in our community. They mentioned traits like respect, honesty, integrity, loyalty, sociability, and hard work.
One
loyal fan shared an important life lesson her dad taught the family on the topic of perspective. You see, her dad was in the septic system business and they had a “potty pumper” parked in their driveway the entire 30 years of his career. She shared that he always used to say, “It’s all in how you look at it. To some it’s S#!$$, but it’s my bread and butter!” The phrase “S#!$$ happens” had an entirely different meaning in their family!
Yes, dads hold a special place in the hearts of their daughters. I know for us we’ve learned many valuable lessons from our Dad too! Here are just a few...
Friends are all around you: Yep, Dad doesn’t know a stranger. Everybody is somebody and there are no exclusive or private clubs in Dad’s world. His philosophy is clearly an “all-inclusive” one. Dad can find a friend in the most unlikely of places and as a result can find the best place to grab a burger, the must-see point of interest, and the back door entrance reserved for those few people “in-the-know”, no matter where he is. Yes, all this because he struck up a conversation with an unlikely stranger. Some might call it luck, but we know it’s more. When you reach out to people and are genuine and sincere, they’ll do anything to return the favor.
Do what’s right: Difficult or easy, expensive or cheap, long or quick. None of this matters because Dad’s first consideration in any decision is always, “what’s right?” Taking a stand for what’s right doesn’t always come easy. It requires strength and fortitude to have a differing opinion from your boss, from the other members of a jury, from the status quo. Not to say Dad was always right, or that he never changed his mind. Still, if Dad believed it was right, even the underdog of underdogs had his support and allegiance.
Work hard: Dad didn’t believe in wasting time complaining or in slacking off. Nothing was ever done half-way. Anything worth doing was worth doing right the first time, and you gave it your best and enjoyed the doing as much as having it done. That’s why Dad always whistles while he works, and others are drawn to work at his side. He makes even the most mundane chores fun and as a result time flies.
Just ask: Dad’s not afraid to hear “no”. It’s just a two-letter word after all. If he’s got an inkling to take a different trail, try it a different way, or get up close and personal (you know, beyond the sign that says, “No Admittance Beyond this Point”) he just asks. I’m sure he’s heard “no” many times, but mostly people give him points for having the guts to inquire, and how can you say “no” to that?! He’s helped us cross many a thing off our bucket lists, all because he wasn’t afraid to ask (even if we were).
If you asked our brothers what lessons they’ve learned from Dad, you’ll probably get a different set of answers. We see dads and daughters as having a unique kind of relationship; different (although just as important) as the unique relationship daughters have with their moms. Yes, dads play an important role in the lives of their daughters, and while as a result our lives are impacted 365 days a year, it’s on Father’s Day that we say thanks.
The Soul Sisters
Soulspiration of the Week:"Dad...A son's first hero, a daugther's first love." ~Unknown
It's Father's Day; the day we honor our dads. The first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the brainchild of Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, WA, who felt that like mothers, dads a deserved a day, too. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared it a national holiday and in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed U.S. Father's Day into law, to be observed on the third Sunday in June.
