Happy Father’s Day!
On this special day, I want to honor my dad, Gordy Goodwin, who passed away on May 20th, 2012. Through the years, here’s what he taught my siblings and me.
In honor of Gordon Goodwin – 1932-2012 – with gratitude for a life well lived.
Make God a priority in your life. Have faith that God is always with you and know that you are never alone. Live your faith and let your life serve as a testament to your beliefs in such a way that others will want to be like you. Walking the walk is much more important than talking the talk.
Next to your relationship to God, family is the most important thing. Spend time with your spouse, kids and your parents. Rather than wasting time with mindless television, go do something with your family. Building memories together builds bonds that can’t be broken.
Spending time with your kids is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give them. It teaches your children how to be a good parent. Teach your children well and your legacy will grow and spread.
Surround yourself with people that you love and create a community of friends. Do fun things together. Be there for them and they’ll be there for you when you need them. Be kind to others. Treat others as you want to be treated in return. Spend time with people you love, for you never know when they won’t be here any longer.
Be of service to others. Rather than worrying about not having enough, reach out and lend a hand to others, trusting that somehow, your needs will always be met.
Living a rich life has nothing to do with the amount of money that you have. Even if you don’t have money, camping and adventures in nature can be as grand as visiting the cathedrals of Europe. Use what you have wherever you are and fill your life with experiences and memories rather than focusing on acquiring things.
Be honest and know that if there’s a problem, there’s always a solution. Be determined to reach your goals and you will. Don’t be afraid to work hard. You can only fail if you quit. When someone says, “You can’t do that”, that just means you have to get a bit more creative and figure out a different way to reach the goal.
Follow your dreams. Keep the fire inside alive and live your passion. Take the time to be creative. Whether it’s building, painting, singing, writing or whatever, take the time to express what’s inside of you.
Be resourceful. Rather than being wasteful, fix something when it breaks rather than buying a new one.
Love life NOW. Don’t wait for “someday” to do what you want to do in life. Go visit your kids now. Buy that little red sports car now. Don’t wait, for we’re never here as long as we think we will be.
Strength can be demonstrated by gentleness. It’s okay to be vulnerable. Tears aren’t a sign of weakness, but rather, a sign of an open heart.
Remember to laugh. Deep belly laughs are good for the soul.
When you lose your temper, be quick to apologize. We can’t take back unkind words said in haste, but we can ask for forgiveness when we say things that hurt others.
Stick to your commitments, even when you don’t want to. Be a “man of your word”.
Love your partner and show affection often. Hold hands and let your beloved know what they mean to you. Know that even when the road is bumpy, “happily ever after” still exists.
Don’t sweat the small stuff because in the big picture, it really doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about things you can’t change. Prayers work better than worry.
No matter how bad the problem might seem, remember that all things are possible when you have faith. Also, ice cream always helps. And, remember that a hidden stash of chocolate is always good for emergencies too.
Seems like your Dad was a very special man. From your article, it is apparent he instilled good values, good sense, and a positive outlook on life. How lucky you were.