Last year around this time, I wrote a blog entry titled, “The Best Night of My Life.” I really appreciate all of the positive feedback and comments I received from everyone that read it. It was great to hear how such a personal and heartfelt story positively impacted so many people. I also really enjoyed hearing the stories of other fathers and daughters who could relate. If you have not read it yet, please do so as well as other blogs I have written. I would love to get your thoughts, comments and stories. In the meantime, here I am at the local coffee shop exactly a year after I wrote, “The Best Night of My Life…” getting to write about the best night of my life again. However, this time, it was the Best Day of My Life.
The Best Day of My Life
My favorite singer songwriter of all time is Lionel Ritchie. He has written and recorded some of the most successful songs of all time. For some reason, his music touches and inspires my soul. A few years back, I was listening to the radio and Lionel Ritchie was being interviewed about his most recent album release. I don’t remember the conversation verbatim, but essentially the interviewer asked him if he was disappointed about the fact that his most recent album had not done as well as previous albums. Lionel’s response has stuck with me ever since. He said something to the effect of, “How can I be disappointed? I have created some of the most successful songs of all time…Truly, Three Times a Lady, Stuck on You (my personal favorite), Sail On, Hello ect. It is impossible for me to compete with myself. I can’t top those songs and don’t even worry about trying. All I can do is the best I can do at the time. Whatever happens, happens. I just feel incredibly blessed to still be able to do what I love to do and to have had the success that I have had.”
Lionel, I can relate
You know how sometimes, you hear something that sticks with you. You don’t know how or why it does, but you have a funny feeling that it will come in handy one day. Well, that is exactly how Lionel’s response above affected me. My daughter’s school’s Annual Father Daughter Dance was last Saturday. Just as I wrote in the “The Best Night of My Life” I was extremely excited and could not wait to experience that event with my daughter for the second time. However, I must be honest with you and say that thoughts of “How can we have a better experience at the dance this year vs. last year,” crept into my mind. Just as I was going through all of the things Lexi and I could do to make this year’s experience even better than last year, Lionel Ritchie’s voice entered my thoughts and I heard him say, “You have already created the best. Don’t try and compete with yourself, just enjoy the moment and have the best time you can. If you try and compete with last year, you will spend more time worrying about doing something that cannot be done…as opposed to being in the moment with your daughter and having the best time you can this year.” Thankfully I listened to Lionel and was amazed at what happened as a result.
Daddy, let’s go on an adventure!
As Lexi and I pulled into the parking lot, I prepared myself to be free and act like a total kid like we did last year. You see, last year, I was expecting she and I to have this formal type of Father Daughter dance experience, but all she wanted to do was to play and be a kid…so once I got over myself and allowed myself to be in the moment, I acted the same and she and I had what she termed was, The Best Night of her Life. So this year, I was expecting the same experience but what happened was the exact opposite. As we walked towards the event, Lexi grabbed my hand with that I’m not letting go firmness that those of us parents can relate to. As we walked into the ballroom I saw a few of her friends running around and playing. I turned to Lexi and said, “Honey, do you want to go play with your friends?” Her response left me in shock. She calmly said, “No, I want to stay with you.” I don’t know how many more years, weeks, months or days I have left of my daughter choosing me over her friends, but I will treat everyone one of them like it is my last. She and I sat down and ate lunch. Several times her friends came up to our table and asked her if she wanted to go play. To my utter surprise, she kept saying, “Not right now, I am spending time with my daddy.” Can you feel my heart melting!
After lunch, the Fathers and Daughters were led to the dance floor where they taught us a couple of ballroom dances. Lexi and I had a great time as she stepped on my feet and we danced to the Waltz and the Two Step. After dancing, I figured she would want to go on the Princess themed horse and carriage ride. She told me that she did not want to. “Daddy, all I want to do now is go on an adventure with you.” “What does that mean, I said.” She said, “Let’s just walk around and discover things.” So we did. She grabbed my hand again and we walked outside of the ballroom and simply looked around, discovered interesting things, took photos with my I Phone and talked about anything that came into our minds. After awhile, I noticed other Fathers and Daughters following our lead and taking an adventure walk. As we were walking, Lexi kept telling me, “Isn’t this fun daddy? I am having a great time.” Then she asked me, “Daddy, are you having fun?” I looked her in the eyes and said, “Lexi, this is the best day of my life.” Lionel Ritchie was right, you can’t compete with the best…but you can make the experience just as good!
Epilogue:
30 minutes or so into our adventure, several friends of Lexi’s ran up to her and begged her to go and play. I encouraged her to go and play and I took pictures. No matter what, you have to let go sometime…but always stay close!
To Your Story!
Ja Marr