Strong work ethic   

My dad has always told me how important it is to have a strong work ethic. Not only for a job I will someday have, but a strong work ethic academically, athletically, and in any relationship I have. My dad used to take me to work with him during the summer, and I would watch how fast he worked and how efficient his hard work was. I was told there’s more to working hard than just getting the job done, meaning you could do something nonchalantly and with the hope of just getting the job done, or spending time doing the job right, bettering yourself, and benefiting others.  

Be happy  

No matter what you have in life, you should always be happy. Every time I would be frustrated about something regardless if it was big or small, my dad would remind me that there is never anything worth staying mad about and life goes on so why live it being gloomy and in your feelings, he also told me once you get in a bad mood it is hard to remember that it’ll always be okay in the end. He told me he thought everyone should have a trick to use as a reminder, my example is when he played me “Three Little Birds, by Bob Marley & The Wailers” and told me every time you think you can’t get through a hard time, play this on repeat until your mindset changes. My dad also taught me that when you are irate, it makes every task ten times harder than it should be. I’ve realized when my dad is happy or in a good mood, it puts everyone around him in good moods as well and joy spreads within.    

  Memories 

“Memories are something you should always hold onto,” my dad said. Holding on to memories doesn’t mean being stuck over something and unable to move forward. Better yet, think of it as a memory is a learning part of your life, a memory can hold a thousand feelings. Looking back, my favorite times with my dad were when we would sit together for hours, and he would tell me all the stories he had. Memories are what build anybody up to the person they are in the present day. 

Family comes first  

A special attribute I’ve seen come from my dad over the years is that family is always the number one priority to him. Last year I had kidney stones, so I was in and out of the hospital, and I always remember my dad being there for me no matter if it was him curled up on the little couch when I had to stay overnight or him holding my hand when the pain got unbearable. The little things he would do to put me first always showed me that my family is the most important thing I have. I know I always have my dad to lean on when I need support. Growing up having a close bond with my dad has made me realize how lucky I am to have the support he provides, which is another reason I’ve learned I should never take it for granted and always put my family first as well.  

 Independency  

My dad raised me to be independent and showed me how independence can help me in life. He always tried to teach me how to do things on my own and in my own ways. I remember when he would teach me the simplest things like how to; put air in your tires, ride a bike, swim, make certain foods, how to drive a car, change air filters, paint, etc. He would repeatedly tell me “You need to learn these things, one day you’ll understand why” I always thought that made no sense, but now I understand and see why I shouldn’t need to depend on anyone but myself. Not only being independent for the small things he taught me but more so the moral those small tasks showed me.  

Honesty  

Honesty is a very important characteristic to me; my dad has always made it clear that being honest is always the best way to go in any situation. When I was eight years old, I really wanted the popular brand-new knee-high twinkle toes shoes but when I asked, my dad replied with, “No you have too many shoes already.” I remember being so mad that I stole money from my dad’s wallet, thinking if I had the money to buy the shoes it would change his mind and let me get the shoes I really wanted. Obviously, an eight-year-old doesn’t randomly come up with $50 overnight and my dad coincidentally loses 50 bucks the same night. My dad asked me if I had taken his missing 50 dollars and told me if I was honest, I wouldn’t be in as much trouble. I wondered why being honest would help me get out of trouble, my dad had explained that even though I was wrong for stealing the money, lying about it would have only made things worse for myself. Since then, I have always appreciated the truth and realized no matter the outcome the truth should always be told.  

 Stability  

Stability is something my dad showed me I want to have in my life, but I learned that the word want is honestly just a word, and to turn the want into an “I have” I needed to learn how to apply certain things into my life. The biggest example I have of stability is a stable job, I’ve grown up seeing that he has always had a good job, versus my aunt who hasn’t. Seeing the difference between the two has shown me how important it is to maintain job stability and the effects it can have if you don’t have stability.   

Trust   

Trust is the foundation of any meaningful relationship, whether it’s between friends, family, or others. My dad taught me that trust is built over time, and to see if you can trust someone you have to give them a chance first. My dad told me I should always give someone a chance to see if they’re trustworthy, and after the first time they do you wrong, you must be wary and can’t let people abuse your power. Trusting people also comes along with being an honorable person, and if you want to trust anyone, people must be able to trust you. 

Unconditional Love  

Everyone goes through their tough times, no matter what you consider the hard times, you still must realize that giving unconditional love is very important. Recently my dad went to prison, and this has affected me severely. When this first happened, it made me feel completely different, I was angry with myself, mad at my dad, embarrassed, and so much more. I realized after having an intense conversation on the phone with my dad that the only thing that truly mattered was if my dad was okay and that to get through this, we had to support each other the best we still could. Giving unconditional love could mean the support you provide, being a listener, giving advice, or even just helping to take someone’s mind in a new direction when they feel stuck or lost.   

Responsibility   

One of the most important things my dad has ever taught me is being responsible, whether it’s for my own actions or helping friends/family with theirs. Being responsible has opened me up to so many opportunities in life because adults and friends know they can trust me to be responsible with something or responsible for doing something. Being responsible can mean a few different things, whether it’s owning up to your own actions or taking care of multiple things on your own. One way my dad has shown a responsible characteristic to me throughout my life has been the way he has dealt with anything financially. He always puts the most important things like rent and/or bills first before spending money on unnecessary purchases.