Father's Day Inspiration

I have been thinking about how my dad inspires me. The truth is, he hasn't inspired me in just one way. Ever since I was very little he has been my idol. Through his hard work, dedication, and wonderful personality he has inspired me to be like him.

Something that really impacted me was my dad's love of softball. In 5^th grade, he started coaching my softball team. He was very passionate about the sport and, like anyone who is passionate, was able to impart that excitement into almost everything we did together. When you're dedicated to something, you put your time in, and this was true about softball. My dad coached my teams all the way from 5^th grade to Senior Year State Championships in Colton, Washington.

The time he invested in me, and actually all of my teammates as well, is something that really sticks out to me. I remember when we would have a bad game, we would gather on the side of the field and have a team meeting. My dad wouldn't let anyone say a bad thing about the loss, instead we would have to find the good things even in the face of defeat this way every game ended on a good note.

This is how I live now as well whenever I am frustrated by something, if I am not reaching a goal I set for myself, I always look back to these talks my dad would give us after the games. It helps me take the best away even from the most frustrating obstacles.

We didn't win the championship the first time we went. We lost it my sophomore year. This set back is ultimately what drove my teammates and I to improve and buckle down, to put in the work needed to go all the way when I was a senior, we won the trophy for Colton.

It wasn't just softball, when I was younger, he would always take me to horse shows and encourage me in my pursuit of horsemanship. I remember how he and my mom would always help me define goals and then do the work it took to get there.

My dad's passion inspires me to work hard towards my own dreams of raising and training horses.

I couldn't have asked for a better father

Thanks Dad!

Gabi, N40 Employee