Dear Dad

A Letter

Photo by Szilvia Basso on Unsplash

“Dear Dad

Why do I find it so hard to tell you how I feel?
Perhaps, because there are no words strong enough to describe the infinity of love a child can feel for a parent.

I do not know if I'm the child you dreamed of having.
But you were the father I dreamed of having.
In this great lottery of the universe, I got the golden ticket.

As a child, I looked at you with shining eyes.
You knew everything.
You could do anything.
You were my hero.
I didn't have to be afraid.
You were there.
And when you were here.
I felt safe.

I wanted to be like you.
I wanted to make you proud.

Years went by.
I grew up and began to think that you didn't know everything after all. The ravages of adolescence have led me to find flaws within you. Made me say things I'd like to take back.

The arrogance of my youth made me think I knew better than you. That what you had to say didn't matter anymore. That you had nothing left to teach me.

That I knew and you didn't.

It was only later that I realized you were right.
That you knew what I didn't.

Your warnings were love.
Your reproaches were love.
Your hopes were love.
Your harshness was love.

You were preparing me for the reality of a life that isn't always tender.

You wanted the best for me.
But I couldn't see it.
I could only see limits to the realms I wanted to explore.

I thought I knew everything.
But today, as soon as I don't know.
The first person I think of is you.

If I don't know.
Dad knows.

If I'm lost.
Dad knows.

If I'm in pain.
Dad is here.

You're still the hero who made my childhood eyes shine.
I'm happy and proud to be your child.

Love you.
Happy Father's Day.”

---

First of all, please excuse my absence last week.
I had a few issues that prevented me from writing.

Today is Father's Day.
I've written a little letter.
You can use this letter if you like it.

I've always had trouble expressing feelings to my father. And it's not easy because parent/child relationships are complex.

If this newsletter exists, it's because I had the father I had.
Some of the things I share with you are his direct teachings.

I wish you all a happy Father's Day.

But I'm not forgetting those whose fathers are no longer with us.
And those who will unfortunately not see their child today.
To these souls, I send you all my support.

There's one last category of people I'm thinking of. Those who have had a father who deserves nothing. This Father's Day may be a painful ordeal.
So to you too, I send love.

Have a great Sunday.
See you next week.