The connection between my father and me is built on a foundation of devotion and care. He has taught me to be open minded, loving, analytical, and to live life well. Instead of the “Do as I say, not as I do” method of parenting adopted by so many, my father believes in teaching by example. Due to his humble beginnings working hard on a farm in west Texas and raising a daughter at seventeen years old, he was able to learn the principles that now guide me. Teaching me these life lessons, which we now refer to as “cowboy philosophy,” has made him the most influential person in my life.
The “cowboy philosophy” states that you should do the right thing because it is the right to do, not for self-serving reasons and not because you expect to get something in return. Living according to this creed has given me a clear-cut way of going about moral decision-making. The only thing that really matters when making a decision is that you trust your intuition and not betray what you know is right. In addition, it is important to be honorable and act in ways that would make you proud.
In addition to teaching me through his words, he has also taught me through his actions. In 2002, my parents divorced after a lengthy custody battle. In the years leading up to this, my father was working jobs in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. He would drive back and forth between these places, sometimes multiple times in one day in order to work, but also so he could see me. I would call him regularly saying that I missed him and wanted to see him, and he would always come as quickly as he could, even if he had to drop everything he was doing and drive late into the night. Eventually, after fighting very hard, he won custody of my sister and me and we moved to Houston to live with him. Those daily sacrifices spoke loudly about my father’s family values; values that have now been passed down to me.
My father has also taught me important lessons about social responsibility. The "cowboy philosophy" strongly supports helping the less fortunate; according to the life-style, if a man needs help, he should have it. At the risk of sounding like a beauty pageant contestant, almost daily I find myself in situations where I am able to help someone. I have always tried to do so because it is the right thing to do as a “cowboy.” This has led to my interest in volunteer work and campaigning for social causes. My father has taught me to be open-minded and respectful of different views, whether they are religious, political, or social.
My father has also influenced me musically, passing on an appreciation and a genetic gift for music. We both have an ear for music enabling us to play a piece after hearing it for the first time. We often play music together, him on guitar, me on piano, or vise versa. This picture of us playing music together is symbolic of our whole relationship. It displays the profoundly deep connection that we share.
My father’s strength continues to inspire me and his actions have literally changed the course of my life. He has provided me with a very stable, happy, fulfilling life. He impacts me both through his verbal teachings and through his actions. All throughout my life, he has always been my closest ally, and this connection is something that is very powerful. One day he’s my teacher, the next my mentor, but always my best friend.
