Yesterday my mom sent our family group chat a photo of my dad. He was in the ocean with his hands raised in the air with the most triumphant smile on his face. I just stared at it in awe. My heart did a flip.
Wow.
Just wow.
Dozens of memories flooded my mind all at once. From boogie-boarding with my dad in Ocean City when we were younger to walking into the hospital at Shock Trauma dazed and confused and to all of the little moments from the past 8 years that proven time and time again how strong my dad truly is.
Still amazed at the photo my mom sent us, I shook my head and ran down to show Robert. I never thought this would happen. I never thought my dad would be able to go back into the ocean.
One word came to mind as I reached the bottom of our stairs; persistence.
My dad is one of the most persistent people I know. He never gives up, he never backs down. Maybe it’s his stubbornness that pushes him forward. Maybe it is his faith and the determination to be able to keep up with his grandkids. Maybe it’s a combination of all three? Whatever the reason is my Dad has taught me to keep going. To never give up and to fight for whatever it is I want.
My dad has this incredible inner strength and self awareness that won’t ever let him settle. He doesn’t settle. No matter what life throws his way, he never settles. He learns, he adapts and he moves forward.
Persistence. Determination. Perseverance.
As I sat down next to Robert, he looked at me with a smile and said “I know. I just saw the photo. How cool is that!?”
I hope with all my heart that I have at least one tenth of my dad’s inner strength and I hope that Robert and I can go through life together with the same persistence, same determination and same perseverance as my dad.
My dad made it into the ocean and I am completely and totally stunned.
