In my last therapist appointment I was given homework, think of seven things that I’m grateful for while staying away from negative thoughts. I figure what better way of doing my homework then writing a blog about it which I can use as a reference for my therapist. My therapist also added stipulations such as thinking why your grateful for said thing, I am grateful for “blank” because it had “blank” affect on my life.
This morning I had breakfast with my father at Quality Foods and I realized while talking to him he fits the bill for something I am grateful for. He drove down with his “house wife”(female best friend roommate, it’s a running joke to call them husband and wife to which they are both disgusted) for a visit with one of their riding pack members. He looks like a badass biker but honestly he’s just as caring as myself with the same old man humour to go with it.
My father and I are a lot a like, from mannerisms and the things we say all the way deep down to personal beliefs and work ethic. What I am grateful for is largely to do with what he has installed with in me, how my character has been built from the ground up with solid foundations.
In one word perseverance, I am no where near as big of a man as my father and I always wanted to make him proud thus I never gave up on anything I put my mind to. It goes back to when I was very young, If I was going to help him with something I wanted to see him smile at my efforts.
My father was always very encouraging and supportive of anything I wanted to do, I used to go with him to work at Hiliars Water Gardens and I really enjoyed myself. What I remember the most clearly was the challenge. An example, I would watch him lift 3 landscaping ties onto one shoulder and 3 onto the other then trek them where ever they needed to go. I was only 11-12 or so at the time and I would attempt to get 2 on one shoulder and one under my other arm then make the same trek twice as fast successfully keeping up to him in piece count. He would often remind me not to hurt myself and to take breaks, I was working hard and proud of it! He installed work ethics within me by just being the Moose of a man he is I was challenged by myself to perform to a higher standard to keep up so I could make him proud. He tells me quite often if there is one thing he is proud of it is precisely that, no matter what I am faced with when I put my mind to it I will find a way to persevere. He taught me to always apply myself to the best of my ability and be proud of what I accomplish knowing I gave it my all.
My father is big, loud and proud of it and along with that comes his outgoing charismatic nature. He can always bring humour to a situation most times in a dirty old man crude way. I learned very quickly how to be quick witted being able to exchange insults with his buddies and laugh it off, old school barbershop style. He is almost always laughing, big and loud full belly laughter drawing many eyes. Having to keep pace with exchanges sometimes I used the inevitable onlookers to add insult to injury for the exchange thus keeping him and his friends on their toes.
My father developed within me the no @D00k13 given attitude towards what other people think, I will be my own man despite anyone else in the same way he is. I actually think he gets enjoyment in the fact that people think he is a badass biker just because he wears a patch work jacket, he does look the part. If you ever speak with him then it would be immediately obvious he is a big softy and speaks from the heart just like myself. I remember one talk when I was very young upset about something someone had said to me, he said loud enough for the person to hear “Son, don’t pay any attention to those who can’t mind their own business”. He then asked me “you know that it isn’t true, right?” I shook my head yes “good” he said putting his finger to my chest and tapping lightly “always listen to what your heart tells you my son, only you know what kind of man you are”.
My father was largely the reason for me being honest, helpful, hardworking, charismatic, humorous, dedicated, faithful, determined, and most importantly true to myself. For all of this I am grateful he is my Moose of a father!
