i. Always put your
best effort forward, and when that’s not enough, keep
trying. Strong fathers teach their daughters that
hard work is never easy; it is exhausting; it is demanding;
it is all-encompassing, but he teaches her that effort is
rewarding, even if it isn’t tangible. Her determination
is relentless, and she gets it from her father.
ii. Be able to stand on your own. A strong
father teaches his strong daughter to rely on herself first.
She’s learned that independence is a wonderful thing to
have, but she’s also learned that needing help is not a
weakness, and asking for it demonstrates strength. She can
stand on her own, but she has the ability to lean on others
when her own balance fails her.
iii. It’s okay to fail. She knows the
expense of expectation when it comes to being raised by a
strong father, but she knows that occasional failure is not
only acceptable, it’s inevitable. Failure is a side
effect of trying, and strong daughters are not contained by
the fear of failure. She sees failure as an opportunity to
try again because her father has taught her to do so.
iv. Respect yourself. He teaches his
daughter to respect her body, her mind, her thoughts, her
instincts. He teaches her to respect herself enough to walk
away from those who hurt her, to accept the love he has shown
her she deserves, and she does.
v. Believe in yourself. He tells her that
her dreams are valid, and to not let anyone make her feel
otherwise. He tells her to believe in herself the way he
believes in her. Strong fathers know that their daughters can
achieve anything they set their mind to.
vi. Place your happiness first. He teaches
her that loving yourself is not selfish, it’s
necessary. He tells her to find happiness within herself
before she goes searching for it everywhere else. Because all
the outer places she finds happiness may lead to
disappointment, but no one can take away the happiness she
alone creates, and this is the kind of happiness that she
should share with others. He teaches her that this is the
kind of happiness that lasts.
vii. You will always be loved. There are
more kinds of love than romantic love, stronger kinds. The
bond a strong daughter and father share endures. When her
heart feels broken or she feels undeserving of love, he
reassures her she’s surrounded by it every day.
viii. Relationships take work, all kinds: platonic,
romantic, familial. He teaches her that not everyone
will always agree with her. There will be arguments, grudges,
times when communication and understanding is flawed, but the
important relationships, the ones that matter, the ones with
people who love her, people who want the best for her, are
worth every bit of effort she puts into them.
ix. Trust your gut; your instinct is
important. She knows when to listen to the inner
voice telling her something’s not right. She knows how
to trust herself, and her intuition. A strong father teaches
his daughter that her feelings aren’t wrong, or
illegitimate, they’re indicative of her ability to
understand herself, her wants, her needs, her fears, her
aspirations, everything in life that matters to her.
x. Always take pride in your
accomplishments. She knows humility, but she is
proud of every success she’s ever had, and she
won’t let anyone take that away from her. He teaches
her to own her intelligence, to not let others undermine it.
He teaches her to expose her strengths and never dim
them.
xi. Know your father’s love will always be with
you. A strong father teaches his daughter that his
love is eternal. His love gives her strength. A strong
daughter always carries her father’s love with
her.
— Things Strong Fathers
Teach Their Daughters