Todays post, Do What You Love is dedicated to someone that already makes me very proud!
As readers here of my blog you know that I certainly possess more than the average amount of passion for my own vision in life. But my passion for my own pursuits does not compare to my passion for my children and their wellbeing.
In my work as a personal development coach I never question my ability, never doubt my skills, and know I can help everyone I work with. As a parent I never have this confidence in my abilities or mastery in my role.
Well to say I got a bit of a shock yesterday was an understatement. It came in a telephone call from my eldest daughter. “Hi Dad, it’s LJ, there’s nothing to worry about”. Well if there’s one thing that’s going to set the alarm bell ringing there it was. And this time oh boy was I right. She proceeded to tell me that her boyfriend had found her on the floor past out in the middle of the night. In fact if it wasn’t for him, well maybe things may well have been far worse. She hadn’t been drinking, before you jump to the wrong conclusion. In fact, things had started about a week ago, with a cough. This cough had gradually got worse and worse. By now it had become so severe that it just constantly woke her up if she did manage to fall asleep. She’d virtually now gone without sleep for 48 hours. Having collapsed, she’d knocked her head and bust a blood vessel in her eye.
After her call she went straight off to the doctors, then to the hospital. Following blood tests and xrays she was told the most likely reason was pneumonia.
Safe to say she is now with her father ….
A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. Author Unknown
It feels strange having her back under my roof. I’m not complaining mind. Although I wish it was under better circumstances, I have to admit to feeling a bit of fatherly happiness just having my baby close by once again.
After all she is not only my first born, but also someone I’m incredibly proud of, and very much love
I love seeing people who take charge of their lives. I know when it comes to her I’m completely biased, but in her case I have every right to be totally proud. She is a born fighter , with a determination to succeed in life no matter what is thrown at her.
I have often written about Carly, her sister, but for some reason, Laura Jayne far less. Maybe that’s because she is a far more private person, and is far less keen for her dad to talk about her as publicly as this blog allows. In fact if she ever reads this she’ll curse me for days, probably longer. That will be in between coughing fits.
When it comes to LJ the name I’ve called her virtually from birth, we have a certain depth of understanding. In some ways we are very similar. Neither of us will ever quit, and will always fight till we achieve what we want.
Even at her young age she has served her time personally on the front lines of life’s ordeals and struggles.
No matter what life has thrown at her she has always got herself off the floor and pushed forward. She has had to deal with a major spinal problem for much of her teenage life, culminating in major surgery, but this didn’t keep her down for long. She sat her A Level exams knowing that immediately afterwards she would be going into hospital for this Spinal Fusion operation. She past with flying colours, and got into her first choice university to study Criminology and Forensic Science. Definitely the brains of the family.
The path for her has never been smooth. In fact it has always been challenging, at times the road she has been made to take has been intensely rocky and I’m sure she may even have felt like quitting at times. But she never has. Nothing has kept her down for long. She may not always see it now, but she has met every challenge, and succeeded.
She has built up evidence for herself that she really can achieve anything she puts her mind to. I believe that the most valuable learning in life typically comes disguised in adversity and in the need to respond to it.
While going through university she has also been working part time with Pay Pal. She is so good at what she does that they even talk to her about the opportunities that the organisation can offer to her. Alas no she won’t look at my accounts. She really is such a hard working talented young lady. She will go far in what ever career she chooses, as long as she believes in herself
The change in my daughter has been breath-taking in the last twelve months or so. I see her taking charge of her life and I LOVE seeing her really grow. It’s amazing. The student. The career girl. The daughter. And she and her boyfriend well they do seem to have a wonderful relationship, and he does seem to be absolutely the dotting loving man that any father would want his daughter to find.
One of our major desires in life should be to be successful. I mean being successful in every facet of life – in your relationships, family, job, and business. And success here, is not just achieving dreams for yourself, but seeing those that you love growing and succeeding in their own right. For me to see my daughter developing as she is, is just brilliant. Though her health right now isn’t the greatest.
My daughters are my world. Fathers and daughters often have a special bond. I will always see myself as their protector and provider, and they will always be my little girls.
So for now once again LJ is Daddy’s little girl once again. And I can’t wait to see how she fulfils her potential, because I know it can be truly awesome. On April 8th, 2012 she will be 21. Her life is really just starting out, and I hope she realises what she could make of it.
All I will tell her is to follow her passions. Never work for work’s sake, instead spend each day following your passions, enjoying each moment, and doing what excites you. Let the journey you take be filled with joy and passion.
Be great my darling daughter, but for now, get well soon.
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Dear Larry,
A very honest post as well as a lovely tribute to LJ. I hope and pray that she is fine completely and of course in every aspects of her self: mental, physical and spiritual. I wish the best to you and your family, always.
Thanks for this post, Larry. makes me think about many of my priorities.
Cheers to your return!
Joy always,
Susan
This is absolutely beautiful, Larry! I have no doubt that both your daughters will take after their dad and have passion in all they pursue in life. You have set the bar high, but you have also set the perfect example for how to reach it.
Blessings to you and saying a prayer for LJ to heal really soon!
Aw what a wonderful father you are. This is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful daughter. More than that I see a fantastically solid relationship between you, the encouragement and love you give to her is so wonderful and her appreciation of you as well. The respect I hear in this I think is what hit so hard. We often love our children with abandon and freely but many lack respect for their children’s choices and passions. Great read. I hope she is well soon and can further whatever endeavors she chooses
I can truly feel your passion for your daughters as you write this post! They’re so blessed to have you and your love for them. Many people hunger for such a love and would gladly exchange all the riches they have for that one moment of knowing somebody’s truly caring for them. Be blessed!
Thank you Larry, as a single dad you have inspired me to feel very proud of my ten year old daughter. She has endured so much at the tender age of ten. She is a stroke kid and two years after the stroke I can thankfully say that she has soldiered on to living a normal active life. Your glowing tribute to your daughter touched me and made me feel so very proud of my little girl Sophie too. I hope and pray that everything will turn out just as you beautifully write it. You and LJ have so much to look forward too as you both live out your passions in life. I wait to hear news of a speedy recovery and a bright rosy future for the whole family.
Larry, you must be very proud of your daughters. I dread the day when my children leave to venture out into the real world to start their life. I want to keep them safe from harm’s way, and I know the growing pains they will experience. I only pray that I have given them the tools they need to succeed in life and continuously move forward.
Please wish your daughter a ‘Happy Birthday’ for me. I hope that it is all she dreams her special day to be 🙂
Such a wonderfully heartfelt post, Larry. I’m sure LJ will treasure it – even if she protests about you publishing it. Hoping she recovers completely soon and wishing her the very best always.
I’d say I just read a post of a very PROUD DAD, and a very FORTUNATE YOUNG LADY. The backing and love she has will defiantly never end, and her presistance, grit and willpower didn’t fall to far from the tree!
Getting up from falls in life is sure not easy, knowing your destination with absolute passion, will drive you where you want to be! I’ve been up and down so many times in life, that now I sit back and wonder how and why I stuck it out, never quitting, coming close, mind you, but had enough whatever it took to push on to the next hurdle.
Lately I have concluded, that this very man, the proud dad, is a big part of the reason that I continually picked myself up, and call it fate, kept on going forward and didn’t give up!
He understands so much about passion and personal development, that when he talks with you, it’s like he’s been there, done that. This makes him stand out from the rest, he really has a heart, and knows where your at in life. Caring is not just a word to be used in conversation, it’s an action word. This PROUD DAD AND FRIEND knows how to activate the word, to truly, give you the ammunition you need to get where you want to be and do. Laura, we parents may tend to have little to offer, take it from me, your Dad has helped lots and lots of people and has no end in future.Take his guideness, like you were paying for it from the best life instructor ever! He has a gift and even though I have only known him for a short while I have seen tremendous changes in myself and others as well! Your life will be a success with leaps and bounds.You have what it takes and a mentor that knows what he is talking about! Happy Birthday Laura , pneumonia is a pain in the drain, this to will pass and you’ll be back to yourself before you know it, rest is important, take this time to enjoy your Dad, make memories!