Ever since I was a little girl, my father and I have always had a special connection. My mom always tells the story of how my dad and I would touch the tips of our fingers together like in the movie “ET” when I was little. Apparently, one time when I was in the hospital for being dehydrated, I put my finger up to the glass and he put his finger up to mine from the other side. I love hearing stories like this, because I think they exemplify our relationship so well. My Dad has always been my security and my reassurance, and I don’t think that will ever change.

My father learned to stand on his own two feet at a young age. Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, he learned how to be a fighter early on and he’s carried that ability with him throughout his entire life. I learned the value of fighting your own battles from my father as a little girl. My Dad taught me that the world doesn’t give you anything; you have to take it for yourself. This world isn’t designed to help the underdog, the only way to move forward is to climb your way to the top, and my Dad definitely showed me that.

In addition to channeling his inner strength through me, my father has also been my constant safe place. So many times in my life I have been terrified-of the raging waters surrounding me, of what’s coming next. Every single time, my dad has reminded me that the storm will calm. He has held my hand and steadied my gaze while helping me to realize that everything will be okay. When I doubt who I am and what I can do, my father acts as my biggest fan, showing me that I can do amazing things if I find the strength and the will within myself to keep going.

Out of all of the things my Dad is to me, the most important is that he is my best friend. I’m thankful that he is the one beside me throughout all of life’s joys and trials alike, and I’m lucky that I get to hold his hand through the beautiful storm. I remember a while back when I was a bit younger, a used to think of our relationship like footprints in the sand. I created this analogy because even though my Dad isn’t physically able to do a lot of things, he’s the strongest man I know in just about every other aspect. So though it may seem that I’m helping him walk, in other ways he helps me. He lifts me up when I feel like I’m drowning, and he shows me how to laugh even through tears. Footprints in the sand. Throughout our lives, we carry each other, in different ways and in different times.

I will always be a Daddy’s girl, and I’m not ashamed of that. Why would I not want to cling to a man who gives me so much love and courage? I count on him when my strength alone isn’t enough, and somehow he always manages to save me from whatever I’m facing. I love my daddy, with all of my heart, and even though we don’t touch our fingers together like we used to, we’re still linked together through our enduring strength, and our endless love for each other.