Happy Fathers Day!

I’ve never been someone who has ever liked a big fuss being made over me. Being the center of attention makes me uncomfortable, so when a day comes around where I am the focus, I try to downplay it as best I can.

It’s Father’s Day today, though, and my daughter insisted that I celebrate and receive recognition.

Father’s Day is also a strange day for me, as not only has my own father passed, but for the majority of my life I didn’t get to celebrate it with him. I found out about my dad late in life, and I am grateful that I did get to spend some of my life knowing who he was and making memories together. We may only have had a few short years together as father and son, but in that time, he taught me some valuable lessons. What it meant to be a father and the love he shared with my daughter are things I will always cherish.

I became a father myself 14 years ago.

I never could have guessed how challenging and rewarding it would be.

Becoming a father quickly taught me that days are long, but years are short. How we act will be mirrored by our children, who will recognize how flawed and imperfect we really are. We will fail, but it is okay to do so. But as long as we keep showing up and doing the best we can, that is what really matters.

My daughter has taught me what unconditional love is

Fatherhood is one of the best things to ever happen to me. My daughter truly is my world. She keeps me grounded, and she definitely keeps me on my toes. She gives me purpose and a reason to keep working on myself to become the best version of myself I can be. My daughter has taught me what unconditional love is—it really is a bond like no other. I can honestly say that my life changed for the better the day she was born.

Fatherhood is a rollercoaster, and the lessons I have learned thus far have shaped the man I have become. I hope I continue to make my daughter proud and have a lasting relationship where she knows she can always count on me no matter what.

I may not like a fuss being made about myself, but I have to admit that days like today certainly put a lot of things into perspective.

Happy Father’s Day!