I haven’t been active at all over the past few weeks due to the amount of shit my brain likes to give me. I apologise for that. I also apologise to @Calluna for not responding to the challenge she set me with sooner. I know she will understand, I just don’t like to let people down. My absence and allowing my mind to break out has given me the silence I need to gather, process and applaud my creative thoughts once again. So, here goes; My 7 Day Positivity Challenge.
I will post the rules of the challenge at the bottom of my post. I won't tag anyone as I don't know too many people on here that haven't already taken part, how ever if you wish to take part in this fun challenge, please do so and tag me in your post so I can keep up with your 7 days of thankful thoughts.
Day 1:
What I am thankful for today and every day for that matter is having two fathers. Sadly they aren’t a super duo, nor are they gay with each other. Which, in an alternate universe, would be quite funny. But in all seriousness I have my Baba (my biological father) and my Step Dad. Both of which are powerful human beings. Both in the professional world and in my world. I will start with my Baba and why I am truly grateful for his existence, or lack thereof.
This is the only photo I have of us from the past 5 years or so, this was taken the night before my sisters wedding. The day he first met my step father after 15 years. In the photo are my two cousins at either side, myself, my sister and of course my Father in the middle.
My biological dad is Arabic. He is also a muslim. He is also the son to a very successful, wealthy and immensely popular business man. This, may mean very little to some, but this fact gave me and my family opportunities I can now only dream of. I never got to meet my Dad’s father, but through my Baba, he taught me that respect is far greater than power. My father taught me how to respect what we have and not to take anything for granted as it may all be gone in a heartbeat. He also taught me not to spend money I don’t have. Although in hindsight, is quite ironic as he was in a position where his access to vast amounts of money was seemingly endless.
The most important thing I am thankful for, from my Baba is culture. His lifestyle allowed us to to witness and partake in so many cultures and embrace the beauty of all things life offers to us. My Baba showed me that beauty lies in everything we see, say, do and touch. He also taught me the value and power of words; once you have said something, once you have allowed your words to leave your lips you cannot take them back. You can say you wish you never said that, but the effect is already in play. The words will hit your target and effect them, whether it is good or bad. Choose your words wisely and speak only from the heart.
Although he left the country and moved back to his home land when I was very young, and although my only means of communication with him is via email, and he may say things with great intention but not always follow through with them, I am thankful for him and I wouldn’t wish any other human being to make up half of who I am today. I cherish every moment I get to spend with him. His absence and actions towards both my sister and I, not forgetting my mother, has taught me what I would like from a future husband and father to my children. With that being said, he is by no means a model husband or father. He was aggressive, abrupt, demanding, monstrutive and above all things fearful, however he is part of me and I love him entirely for that alone. I look into the eyes of my partner and see my father, but I see the power of strength, the value of family and most importantly protection. My Baba was protective above and beyond all the negative traits he carried with him.
The second man in my life, whom I am truly thankful for is my step father. This man, has his own family of four boys, now men. He took on a new family when his family was almost, pretty much fully grown. His youngest son at the time was 16 years old. My sister and I were 9 and 12 when he tooks us on. He made us as much of his family as he could. Despite all the baggage my Mum carried with her when they first met, children aside, there was a lot of emotional and physical trauma my Mother had endured during her marriage with my Father and for any man to accept a woman with all her problems, two children in tow, no home, no money… this man never once made us feel like a burden. He worked harder than ever to look after his four boys and now me and my family. He put a roof over our heads and made us his own. He took on the role of a father to two girls, which I believe is hard when you’re pushing 50, all your kids are boys and are now grown up and no longer living at home. I tried his patience as much as any teen growing up with bitter angst towards the cold world would, he never gave up on me. Ever. He made memories with us and made sure he was always present in our day to day lives. Some days he would hide away in his office, stressed with the business and dealing with female hormones, but I totally appreciate that we were hard work. I was hard work. Really hard. I hated him at some points, i would tell him, scream at him that he was not my father and he had no right in my life. I didn’t understand the strain my Baba put on my family as I was too young, all the while this new man in my life did. He took all the shit I had to throw at him and not once did he throw it back. He took me with the patience and care that I needed to grow in to the well rounded woman I like to think I am today. I also bared witness to the way his sons treated him, despite his efforts to keep them as well looked after as my family and I were. He produced working and business opportunities for his children and nearly all of them took great advantage of his success and offerings. He never gave up on them, like so many parents easily could. Like he did with me, he took all the shit they had to throw at him and let it eat away at him, but it never changed the amount of love he has for them. For all of us in fact. My step father has one of the biggest hearts I have ever been lucky enough to bare witness to.
I remember at the age of 11, he taught me my first swear word. SHEEP SHIT. Coming from a different background to my sister and I, dirty play and swearing was entirely forbidden. He broke all our regularity by taking us for walks in the countryside, tracking cows in the night and jumping in cow pat - you know the type thats still warm and soft underneath but with that satisfying crust on top. He reintroduced trust and loyalty to the family. Consistency and fatherly love. For his existence I am truly thankful.
I could go on in more detail and depth about both of my fathers but for this post I will leave it as positive as I can. I love them both dearly in different ways and for many different reasons. I am so thankful for them both, but only one of them will truly appreciate how much I appreciate them.
Sorry for the lack of abundance in imagery, as you may or may not appreciate, I have very few photos with my biological father and I am not the type to share too much in terms of personal or family photographs. Our photos hold very precious moments and memories for me and I wish to keep them safe and protected. I hope you understand and enjoy my first day of the 7 days of positivity challenge.
The rules for the 7 Day Positivity Challenge:
• Write a post about something you have to be positive about today - this could be anything from being thankful for your current situation, someone being nice to you, being thankful for your friends and family, or even being thankful for the opportunity you have been given here on Steemit - just keep it positive :)
• Do this for 7 days in a row if you get nominated
• Mention three people who should do this on each day.
• Tag it with #7daypositivitychallenge and include these rules at the bottom of your post
• Include a picture of something positive (related to your story if possible)