When you grow up a farmer's daughter, you see the world in a different way. You see the rain as a blessing, the sun as a gift, the bank as the bad guys, the workers as your family, and the luck as an everyday necessity. You learn that hard work will pay off, but in the end, it all comes down to how much rain you get one month, how much sun the next, when the bank decides to come in and take their "fair share," and the luck when it all finally comes together to pay off after months and months of nothing.
When you grow up a farmer's daughter, you see the world in a different way. You learn that nothing comes easy. Hard work is needed in this life of ours. In the end, it is always better to bust your back then take it for free.. and "that is how they will always be." You learn that dedication and determination are key. Even when the world literally shits on you and will take away all you have worked for, you must stand up tall, dust yourself off, and try again.
When you grow up a farmer's daughter, you see the world in a different way. You understand that complaining is not a real thing. Dad will come home after a long day, take off his boots, grab a cold one, and ask you how your day was. You'll tell him about the friend drama, school drama, how this one teacher totally graded a test unfairly and that's why you have a D in the class, and in the end, he wants to sit there and listen to you. He wants to hear all about what Chelsea did to upset Amanda and why Mr. Williams is out to get you because he loves you. And after your thirty minutes of ranting, you will ask him how his day went. And he will say "fine." He won't mention how sales are low, the drought is really affecting the soil, the truck needs a new engine, he had to lay off 20 workers that day because he couldn't pay them, or how he really does not need to hear about all of your drama because he has issues of his own. But he will just sit there, say his day was fine, and let you go on about yours. He knows there is no true reason to complain about his issues because there are much bigger ones in the world.
When you grow up a farmer's daughter, you love the world in a different way. You love every rainy day, every sunny day, every patch of grass, and every spider that comes crawling into your house. You see the value and worth in everything. You see the bright side in everything. You love people differently. You love them like they are your own like they are your child or sibling. You care so much more for them because you see the potential in everything. Whether that is the potential for someone to succeed in college or the potential for a piece of land to become a new barn for the horses, there is always something more that could be done.
When you grow up a farmer's daughter, you grow up with the best life possible. You grow up with two parents who love you dearly. Who will do anything to better themselves, the people, and the places around them. Who will work hard, but play harder with you when the rain comes. Who will celebrate the wins, and endure the losses. Who will never complain about the hard days, but help you cope with the days that you think are the worst.
I have learned all of this growing up. I grew up the daughter of a farmer, but I did not truly realize how much it impacted me until I left my parents and my small farming town in California for college. I did not realize how much of a blessing it was or how much my dad's farming personality actually rubbed off on me. I find myself trying to look on the bright side as much as possible. Thanking God for the rainy and the sunny days. Always telling people "I'm fine" when I really just want to let it all out. Being determined with everything and anything in my power to be involved or make a difference. And that is all because of one thing: I am a farmer's daughter.
When you grow up a father's daughter, you love every moment of every day because you know, no matter what, everything in a blessing in some way.
So take it from me: be thankful, be kind, be there for people, be involved, and in the end, be genuine. Be real. Be present.
