Parents are there to teach their kids, to bestow their wisdom upon us, and help us prepare to one day be grown-ups just like them. Well, I’m not a grown-up yet, (not completely, at least) but I have already learned so many lessons from both of my parents, especially my dad. My dad was really sneaky about teaching me about life; most of the time I never even noticed I was learning anything. That’s the thing about my dad: he is the smartest guy I know and always will be.
The first lesson my dad taught me was about forgiveness and dedication. He raised me as a Chicago Cubs fan. Now, if any of you are Cubs fans, you totally understand what I’m getting at here. Being a Cubs fan means you have to put up with constant losses, aggravating extra innings, and Milwaukee Brewers fans making fun of your team. Once in a while, they turn it around and win, giving fans hope that there is light at the end of the ivy-covered tunnel, and reminding us why we stay faithful to the best (and worst) baseball team in the Windy City. Through it all, I learned early on how crucial it is to forgive and forget, and what it takes to be truly dedicated to something you love.
Lesson number two was taught through 11 years of playing softball. My dad was always one of the coaches of my team, and he was the coach that showed us we play for the fun and love of the game, nothing else. While I had many other coaches that just wanted to win and be the best team in the league, my dad was the one that just wanted every girl to try their best and just enjoy playing the game. He would always tell me after a bad game that as long as I did the best that I possibly could, then that’s all anybody can ever ask of me. I take this thought with me in everything I do and know that I will never be perfect, but if I perform to the best of my ability and give it my all, then I can take pride in what I did.
The third lesson my dad taught me was taught through music. On car rides to and from school, my dad would always play his favorite CDs: Van Morrison, Paul Simon, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel, and so many more. Not only did this give me awesome taste in music, but songs from any one of those brilliant songwriters gave me valuable insights on life. Tom Petty’s “Learning to Fly” revealed to me the importance of getting up when I fall down, and that we are all struggling and trying our best to make it in this crazy world. The Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” taught me that sometimes life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to, but that’s okay. Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” told me that I should never change for anyone, and how wonderful it is to find someone who loves me for me. I could go on and on, but I'll save you the thousand song references I could make here.
I have an endless amount of thanks to give to the man who raised me, taught me determination and dedication, and showed me how to have pride and confidence in myself. The most important lessons I have learned from him were the ones I had no idea I was learning, and for that, I am so grateful.
