Dear Daddy,

I am your little girl, your princess. I always have been. From the time I could crawl, I have followed you, and you have let me, fearlessly.

You’ve taught me everything you know, know I would be incredible. You knew you had to teach me everything; how to fish, how to shoot, you even taught me in a middle of a screaming match, stuck in the town rotary, how to drive standard transmission. I thought I was in first gear, but you told me I was in third gear. I was. You knew.

I never understood everything you were teaching me, or why you were teaching me even, but you knew.

You always know everything, and you always have. You knew everything, even when I thought I did. But you still taught me. You taught me how to be brave, how to fight, and you’ve taught me how to be brave. You’ve shown me how to love where love is needed, and that words can heal even the deepest wounds.

You’ve taught me everything, fearlessly.

But I know you were scared.

You were scared of the lessons you couldn’t teach me, the lessons the world taught me. You knew you had taught me all the rights and wrongs you could. And you recognized my worth, my purpose in this world, long before I did.

But you were scared the world wouldn’t.

You were scared of the pain I would face; the heartbreaks, the let downs, the losses, you would take them all away if you could.

You’re scared the world won’t see me for who I am. You’re afraid because you’ve taught me to be so nice, and caring, and that my heart will always be the most beautiful thing about me, and the world might take advantage of that.

The world is a big scary place, and well, Daddy, I’m scared too.

I'm scared of what this world has to offer; the heartbreaks I have yet to endure, the deaths I have not grieved, and simply the mean people who do not understand my purpose I have yet to face.

It's very scary, honestly.

But I'm not too scared. Why? Because of all you have taught me. You've taught me to be a good person, and to always live from what my heart tells me, but you've also taught me when it's okay to walk away, when it's okay stop, and when it's okay to stand up for myself. You've talk me at the end of the day, I am living for myself. No other person can take me or make me anything I don't want to be. You've taught me to be a fearless girl, just like you.

So Daddy, I know you are scared of what the world has to offer, and I am too.

But it's okay, because you taught me.