Father. Dad. Daddy. Papa. Pop. There are many different words we use to define one of the most important men in our lives. More than the disciplinarian. More than the one that wore hats and ties. More than "the fixer." Along with mom, he's the one who taught you so many invaluable lessons.
Black men, we celebrate you. Not just on Father's Day, but every day. Here's some of the things the precious men in our lives have taught us:
13. Be yourself.
It's up to you to define who you are. Don't let anyone tell you what specific things you can or can't do because you're a man or a woman.
If you want to be a surgeon, go for it. If you want to cook, cook. If you want to build something, be careful and don't hit your finger with the hammer. If something needs to be cleaned, clean. Do you.
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12. Handle your business, no excuses, no explanations.
Being a truly great human being can mean many things, but having excuses is not one of them. Always be responsible.
11. Give and it shall be given.
You need to be resourceful, and one of the most valuable resources are people. Rewarding people what they’re worth is key.
10. Try. Try. Try.
It's not always easy, but don't give up doing the things you love to do. As long as you're not hurting anyone, follow your heart and take pride in doing the things that bring you joy.
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9. There is great value in a hard day's work.
Many children remember their fathers getting up early, working 6 days a week, always taking great pride in making a living. Years later, these are the children that rarely complain when they're at work...because they remember that Dad always worked harder.
8. Education is key.
You cannot put a price tag on a good education. Don't settle for anything less than this. It’s something that no one can ever take away from you.
7. Be there for your children.
Of all the things that kids remember the most about their fathers, things like money and fancy gifts aren't generally at the top of the list. More valuable to them are those times Dad took them to the park, taught them something new, or simply took the time to spend some time with them.
6. It's never too late to do what you want to do.
Always try your very best to follow your heart and your dreams. Maybe it'll hit you later in life what you really want to do. There's nothing wrong with this. Just make sure you go for it.
5. Procrastination is a thief of time.
Why put it off tomorrow? That is, unless you happen to have a time machine.
4. Having God on your team means you have the greatest teammate.
No matter how tough life gets, having a relationship with God can help move mountains.
3. Have fun, go out...but not every night.
Going out with friends and having fun is great. But don't be that guy/girl that's out every single night. You'll save money, people will have a better opinion of you, and when you do go out, those times will feel more special and you're more likely to have more fun.
2. Always put something away for a rainy day.
Save, save, save. Don’t just spend everything. There will come a time when you will be thankful that you did.
1. Never forget the beauty of being a kid.
Things like working and saving money are essential and important things, but so is keeping a tight hold on your sense of fun. Even as you age, remember to not take yourself too seriously, and never lose the ability to just let go and be silly sometimes.
