I hear it from everyone all of the time, dad. I feel the pressure from people about taking over your business once you retire. And I want you to know that just because I don't want to take over the family business doesn't mean I don't want to be exactly like you.

For as long as I can remember I have been trying to follow in your footsteps. Whether it was in athletics, school, my career, or just life in general, I always tried (and continue to try) to be exactly like you.

There are a million things I admire about you. Your ability to overcome adversity, your ethics, and morals, your determination, but I think the thing I most admire is your ability to make a living while never forgetting to make a life. I know I joke about you being out of the office all of the time but I know that when you're gone you're chasing after what you love and that's a pretty remarkable thing. Whether it's hunting, fishing, or spending time with mom and me, you always make time for the things that matter most to you. You don't get caught up in the drama of everyday life. You live simply and that's something I will always try to imitate.

So, dad, even though I don't want to follow in your footsteps and take over your business, I want to thank you for helping me become the person I was meant to be. Thank you for all the late night talks, constantly pushing me to be my best, and supporting me in whatever I chose to do even if it's not what everyone else envisions.

It is truly an honor when people tell me that I'm exactly like you. But what they don't know is that I will never be as good of a person as you.