As much as I sometimes don’t want to admit it when it comes to the proper ways I should clean my room, what I should do on the soccer field, or how I should take care of my car, when it comes to how I should live life, my Dad’s sayings and advice are always right, and a major component of what gets me through. He calls them “dadisms” so I will too.
1. “All-in All-out”
Although my dad quit being my coach in the sixth grade, he never really quit being my coach. This dadism first developed before one of my biggest soccer games junior year, and it stuck, on the volleyball court, the soccer field, and in the classroom. It is my reminder to give my all in everything I do. I was worried about what would happen when I came to college and there were no more “All in All out” game day pick me ups, but on move-in day, Dad came through. It’s remained on my board all semester, and it’s still pushed me to do my absolute best in everything I do. That’s what “dadisms” do.
2. “I am so proud of you”
Every time I see or talk to my dad, I hear this phrase. Every time I have ever truly been sad, every big or small argument we have ever had, he is still always the first to come into my room, give me a hug, and no matter what, he does not leave without telling me that he’s proud of me. He says it on these worst of days, and on my best of days, he is the proudest proud human being that a proud human being could ever be. No matter what my dad is my number one fan, there to encourage and support me, and I can’t count the number of times that those hugs and this saying have saved me. That’s what “dadisms” do.
3. “You’re just like your mom”
More often than not, my dad says this out of frustration when I’m not quite as put together as he. But every day for eighteen years I have had the best example of a what a marriage and friendship should be right in front of me, and when he tells me I’m like her, I know exactly what he means, because I know he loves her and our family much more than anything. It means that I am stubborn enough, smart enough, and strong enough to do what I set my mind to, just like my mom, and that inspires me daily. That’s what “dadisms” do.
4. “You can’t fix stupid”
I really like it when the world is in order and people are efficient and everyone gets along and we all get things done, which means I really don’t like a lot of things because rarely ever does this all happen perfectly. My dad often mocks me and my frustration with what I often too quickly think is idiocracy, but he also knows I have an issue in believing I can fix everything. Life will never be this easy. We will never get along and get things done perfectly, and Dad isn’t afraid to remind me that’s okay. I don’t have to fix or save anybody. Things don’t always have to work out my way. He reminds me that I can enjoy life, despite all of it’s “stupid” speed bumps that I can’t change. That’s what “dadisms” do.
5. “Dream Big. Work Hard. Give Thanks.”
Words to live by, and that he does. My dad is 50, and he’s still in school because he still has big dreams. He works too, and he works so hard sometimes I wonder if it will kill him. But each morning before he goes to work, he does the most important thing- he literally hits his knees. So when he encourages my siblings and I to dream big, work hard, and give thanks, it’s not an empty motto created to make us feel like we can do anything, it’s a lifestyle we get to see. He gives us a motto to live by and, whether he knows it or not, an example of how to live it. That’s what “dadisms” do.
So dad, thank you. You probably never knew I was listening, but I was, and I owe so much of who I am and what I believe in to you. The little girl you push, pick on, and are proud of, she's the way she is because she has such an amazing father like you. That's what "dadisms" do.