Five Important Life Lessons Learned From Dad

My dad was never one to get uptight while driving, completely opposite of me. He'd take me out for driving lessons and I'd tense up as cars would zoom by me or ride my bumper because they didn't think I was going fast enough. My dad was always so laid back and would tell me, "don't worry about them- you worry about yourself. Always be aware of your speed and never go too fast. If people don't like it, they'll find a way around you." Dad's advice has saved me from ever getting a speeding ticket because I was pressured to drive faster than I should have.

There was a man who used to sit on the stone wall in front of the church we went to and he'd feed the pigeons. As far as I know, my dad was the first and only adult to  talked to the man. In time, all of us kids, and my mom, began to chat with the man.  We learned that he was a homeless war veteran who'd returned from war to learn his wife had left and taken everything. He was completely alone in the world. My family struggled because money was one thing we didn't have, but we always found a way to put together some food, or socks, or other little things for the man. Because my dad took the time to talk to the man and encouraged us to find a way to give to, I learned a level of compassion that I never would have learned otherwise.

Whenever I've told my dad about a potential new job or big purchase, he's always asked me this question, "did you pray about it?" My dad has always made it clear  that decisions shouldn't be based on money, but should be based on the answer we get when we pray about it. If we feel that the answer should be "no" even when we want it to be "yes," then we need to honor that. I remember applying for a radio job in a big city and they were interested in hiring me and for a crazy amount of money, but after praying about it- something didn't feel right. I declined the job. The team I would have joined were all fired just 6 months after the position was filled and it was due to budget cuts.

When I say I'm going to do something, I do it. Even if I don't want to or I change my mind about after the fact. Obviously, there are circumstances (like a super sick kid) that mean I might occasionally have to back out of something, but that's different than not doing something because it sounds boring or like hard work. My dad has drilled it into me and my siblings that our word is our bond. When we promise to do something, we have to follow through or people won't believe us. It's all about integrity and accountability.

You know how people always tell kids not to talk to strangers? Not my dad. As long as he was with us, he encouraged us to talk to complete strangers (if we were alone- that was different). Dad encouraged us to strike up a conversation in the grocery store or out on the street. My dad has never, ever been scared to talk to someone. There have been times I've been scared for him because he's not even scared of shady characters. My dad will talk to anyone about anything, even if he has absolutely nothing in common with them.  Some of the most fascinating people I've ever met were complete strangers that I randomly bumped into and when I did, I could hear my dad telling me to talk to them. I'm so glad I've followed his advice.