For My Dad, in honor of Father's Day

Today is Father's Day and I can never find just the right card to let my father know the enormous positive influence he's had in making me who I am today. I am very close to my mother, and I give her a lot of credit in my upbringing, but I often forget to let my Dad know how key he was as well.

Since I was born in 1962, my Dad was not the typical hands on dad you may see today, but he still taught me a life-time of lessons that are the foundation of who I am. Here are just a few of those lessons.

Be There for Others
This is the major part of what I love doing today with my Coaching business. My father sold insurance for a number of years and he loved to interact with people. We used to joke that when he went for a quick run to the grocery, only to return hours later, that it was because he either ran into someone he knew or just started a conversation with someone he ran into. He is like that. He never knows a stranger. In addition to just listening to people, many times Dad would help people make their premium payments when they were going through a rough time. He felt for people. He connected with them. My Dad would also pick up hitchhikers (YIKES!) to help them out, many times taking them through a nearby drive-thru to give them something to eat. I've never been that brave.

Be Resourceful and Constantly Learn
There was never anything my Dad wasn't willing to try to fix or do on his own. From carpentry, appliances, plumbing, roofing, painting, car maintenance, construction, you name it, he's at least attempted it. He helped me install a sun roof in my first car. (Yes--cutting a hole in your roof with a jig saw at the insistence of a 23 year old, you have to be brave!) He's helped us install tile flooring and provide maintenance on a family owned Florida condo. He's constantly learning and now is expanding his knowledge of computers and computer programs. He's not afraid to try anything.

Have Good Credit
The first time I wanted to buy a car, I wanted to do it on my own with no co-signer. I was only 16, with a new job, but my Dad said "Sure, let's give it a try," and off we went to my bank of choice where they politely rejected my application. Dad suggested we go to his bank where they knew him and fill out a loan application there. Of course I still needed the co-signer, but they happily gave me the loan and I learned the importance of good credit and relationships.

How to Love
The most important lesson I've gotten from my Dad is how to love unconditionally. Throughout his life and almost 50 years of marriage to my mother, he has handled every bump or major obstacle in the road of life with a positive attitude and unconditional love for his children, his extended family and my mother.

So Dad, Happy Father's Day!

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