What are you most proud of in your life?

Today, I’m thinking about the strength of my daughters, Rylee and Karmen, and feeling an almost overwhelming sense of pride. Their strong will is not always the easiest trait to guide as a parent, but it is one of the things I admire most about them. Their determination, their fire, their refusal to back down when something matters…it is the same spirit that has fueled leaders, dreamers, and change-makers for many years gone by.

I see how each of them carry their strength in their own unique way: Rylee with her resolve and the way she stands firm in her values, and Karmen with her fierce voice, when she cranks it up, and fearless heart. I see pieces of myself in both, but better…I see the refined version that I learned the hard way. They remind me that standing your ground for the right reasons, even when it is unpopular, is not stubbornness; it is courage.

What makes me most proud is that they use their strength with compassion. They fight for fairness, they speak truth even when it shakes the room, and they keep growing into the kind of women who will not only face the world but help make it better.

Their willpower gives me hope. It tells me that the best parts of who I have tried to be are living on in them, stronger than ever.

Love you young ladies,

Dad