Dear Dad,
I have to start by saying thank you. You have been in my corner since day one and no matter what has happened you have been there since. It’s hard growing up, experiencing new things and reaching new heights. But knowing you are there to catch me if I fall has always allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. You have always supported me in everything I’ve done; from my first steps to my walk across the graduation stage, to my baby steps into college, you’ve held me up and never let me fall.
First off I have to say thanks for driving me everywhere because I cannot imagine that it was fun for you to drive all over the place dropping me off and waiting around because you then had to drive me home again. All those far away lessons, tournaments and practices were trips, but you never really complained. The hours that you spent taking me places, watching and supporting me have to be more than I ever spent practicing or playing. You took time out of your day to help fulfill my dreams and make sure that I accomplished what I wanted to do even if you had to give me a push.
Your dedication to my sport was just as much if not more than my dedication. The countless hours that I spent practicing weren’t me by myself, they were having you help me. Thanks for being my catcher, my feeder, my target and my fielder. Having you give me tips and advise throughout practice was always a highlight. You were my personal trainer, my motivator and coach. The fact that you cared just as much if I hit my curve ball as I did means that not only did you understand how hard I worked but that you supported what I was doing. All the weekends you spent away from doing what you wanted and all the time you sacrificed is uncountable. Your pushes to practice, to make myself greater and to advance my skills made me the great player that I was. It not only made me a great player though, it made me a great person.
When I look at myself today, I am able to realize that I wasn’t shaped just by my personal experiences with others, I was shaped by my family and friends, and especially by you. You were my motivator and the one who made me realize that in order to achieve a goal I needed to work to gain it because there would be others working just as hard to achieve that same goal. Although you forced me to read some self-help books, which I thought would be boring, in reality, taught me about myself and what skills I needed in order to get where I was going. The discipline that softball and you taught me will remain with me for life, as well as all the other values I have learned. I know that I need to push myself because I’m not always confident enough to realize that I have the ability to go the distance. I know that I need to open myself up more to others, and I know that I wouldn’t be who I am today without having you as my dad.
So, thank you. Thank you for taking all the softballs to the shins that I threw at you, all the bruised shoulders from my hits and all the love that I have thrown your way. I know that even to this day, you will never stop believing I am great and that I can do great things in the future. I love you and appreciate all the sacrifices you have made for me to become who I am today. They will never be forgotten or unwanted. Thank you for being you and thank you for helping to make me, me.
Lots of love,
Your Star
