Things My Dad Taught Me


Last month I shared the wisdom that my mom bestowed upon me and with Father’s Day this weekend, I wanted to take the time to share some of the amazing lessons I learned from my dad! My sister and I both have a very close relationship with our dad – we talk every single day, sometimes more than once and it’s been like this since I went off to college and don’t see it changing for a long time to come! 




You can teach yourself anything ||


When we moved to America 26 years ago, the only English my dad spoke was what he heard in the movies and from Beatles songs. To say he wasn’t fluent would be an understatement, but he didn’t have the opportunity to go to night school because he needed to work to support our family so what he picked up was from co-workers and he learned enough to start his own business. Fast forward to today and he speaks as well as he wants to and believes that anyone that wants to understand him will! 



You need to have faith in yourself ||


I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when my dad told me something was out of reach. If it was modeling he drove me to the classes every Sunday, if it was tennis, he took me to all my tournaments – it didn’t matter everything was within reach! My dreams could be a reality as long as I had faith in myself. He’s one of the most confident people I know and because of that he’s instilled the importance of having faith in myself. If I don’t believe I can do something, then how will anyone else believe that I could do it? My dad built a business less than five years after moving to America – his faith in his abilities and himself is honestly what propelled him to be an incredible business man and where I get my entrepreneurial spirit!  



You should treat your spouse like royalty||


My parents have been married for 40 years and have known each other since the second grade! That’s literally almost their entire lives together and for the 28 years that I have witnessed their love, my dad has never once stopped treating my mom like a queen! He’s patient, he’s kind and he loves showering her with unexpected surprises whether it’s bringing lunch to her office or making sure she doesn’t have to clean on the weekends. He’s the reason I knew what to look for in my husband – any less than what he was wasn’t acceptable! 



The best investment in life is your family ||


He sent me a text a few days ago and in it was a picture of me and my sister and underneath he wrote – this is my real investment. Everything he put into raising us – from the endless tournaments he drove me to, to the pageants he sat through with my sister – it was worth it to him because our success is truly his success and we are his greatest investment and I think I’ll only understand the text he sent me when I have children of my own and see them accomplish their goals. 



Take care of your possessions ||


My mom is the bargain hunter, my dad is the investor! He values what he owns from his car to his sunglasses, everything is in pristine condition almost exactly as the day he bought them. I’m trying to get better at taking care of my things because I know they’ll last longer if I do. To the same point if you buy something of value that you invest money into, taking care of it also means maintaining it – the piping in one of my bags was coming loose and my dad was almost mortified when he saw me sporting the bag and literally walked me to the store to have them fix it – he said, you paid a lot of money for this, treat it with care! 



Never be afraid to ask for something ||


As the saying goes – “the squeaky wheel gets the oil” my dad has the same mentality. If he wants an extra service added to his plan and doesn’t think he should pay for it, he will convince them he doesn’t need to pay for it and in return will still get the service. I take this wisdom with me for a lot of things, but mostly with work – you can’t get what you don’t ask for whether it’s a new client, project or even a raise – you have to ask and say why you deserve it! 



Be Happy ||


Seems simple enough and he tells me this before we hang up every day. Be Happy…for lots of reasons, but he’s just a happy go lucky guy and doesn’t let things bother him – probably bugs my mom to no end, but he just lets things fly and I wish I inherited this quality from him! Along those lines he always says – “go make your day” and he says it on purpose, for me to make the most of my day, to really get everything I can out of each day and he gets my mornings started on the most positive note! 


 


Taking a word out of my dad’s vocabulary – I “cannotbelieveable” I am lucky enough to be your daughter! 






What lessons did you learn from your dad?




Linking up with Annie and Natalie


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68 Comments

  1. P!nky
    June 18, 2015 / 11:33 am

    awww, I love this post! So sweet, B! Your daddy sounds like and an amazing man and my daddy has taught me similar things. The biggest lesson is 'treat your spouse like royalty", my daddy treats my mom like a queen and I grew up knowing whoever I married had big shoes to fill, haha. So happy we both have such amazing fathers in our life. <3

  2. Elle Sees
    June 18, 2015 / 11:35 am

    these are truly so sweet and very true of his life lessons. give him a huge hug for me!

  3. Jenn
    June 18, 2015 / 11:40 am

    I absolutely love this. You can tell how much love you have for your dad from this post, and also how much he loves you and his family. I think it's wonderful that he taught you to be such a strong, happy and caring person! What a gift to be able to have so many wonderful things to say about your dad 🙂

  4. Owen Ross Davis
    June 18, 2015 / 11:47 am

    Wow he sounds like an amazing man! you are one lucky daughter! Such a sweet post <3

  5. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 11:51 am

    This was wonderful, thank you so much for sharing. you are truly blessed to have such an amazing relationship with your father.
    Xoxo,

    Whitney & Blaire

    Peaches In A Pod

  6. awhite
    June 18, 2015 / 12:23 pm

    Aww, this post is so uplifting + your dad sounds like an amazing guy! 🙂

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

  7. Pamela {Sequins and Sea Breezes}
    June 18, 2015 / 12:25 pm

    Aww I love this! Your dad definitely has a lot of great words of wisdom!

    <3, Pamela
    Sequins & Sea Breezes

  8. Stacy G
    June 18, 2015 / 12:26 pm

    Aww love this!! He sounds adorable. He shares a few of the same qualities as my Dad. Our families are actually a lot alike. It's funny. I mentioned before our moms are so similar and my sister is a blonde and I have the dark hair like you! My dad does take great care of his possessions too and he is pretty good at scoring extra deals lol. xo

  9. Rachel Emily
    June 18, 2015 / 12:30 pm

    Wow! He sounds like an incredible man! Having a great dad is such a blessing!

  10. Anonymous
    June 18, 2015 / 12:33 pm

    All great pieces of advice. Although we have chosen to have children, I think people who do want them should take the commitment very seriously and think about how they are "investing".

    Two things that my dad told me:
    1. Be very careful about who you get into a car with (when you are not driving).
    2. A lot of problems among family are started by people trying to tell family members how to live. When your kids/younger siblings/nieces/nephews are adults, let them live their lives.

  11. Amanda | Kids and Cabernet
    June 18, 2015 / 12:35 pm

    I love this so much. He sounds like such an amazing man, father and husband!

  12. sara [at] journey of doing
    June 18, 2015 / 12:50 pm

    Your dad is adorable!! I love him already!! I can't believe your parents have know each other since 2nf grade! What an amazing example (and high standard!) to set for marriage! "Go make your day" – I LOVE that!

  13. Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often
    June 18, 2015 / 1:00 pm

    Such a great post! I love all those lessons. He seems very wise. Treating your spouse like royalty is a very good one.

  14. Kate at Green Fashionista
    June 18, 2015 / 1:02 pm

    Awwww love all of this, your family is too adorable and I love how much you all love each other! Treating your spouse like royalty is how my dad treats my mom as well and I'm hoping my brother will pass that along to his future wife 🙂

  15. Gold Coast Girl
    June 18, 2015 / 1:12 pm

    Such a beautiful post! Thanks so much for sharing and have a wonderful Father's Day.
    ~Samantha
    goldcoastgirlblog.com

  16. Pink and Fabulous
    June 18, 2015 / 1:31 pm

    Your dad is a smart man! He is full of great advice and is obviously an amazing example! You're so lucky to have such amazing parents and that shows in your own success!

  17. Jaclyn Y
    June 18, 2015 / 1:37 pm

    Love this. Your dad sounds like a wonderful guy, every woman should be treated like a queen by their man!

  18. kerri @ cheshire kat
    June 18, 2015 / 1:41 pm

    ah i love this! this is just the sweetest. it's like my mom and i – we talk every day 🙂 i love those last two bits of wisdom the most, too. thanks for sharing chica! xo

    cheshirekatblog.com

  19. Shannon Jenkins
    June 18, 2015 / 1:44 pm

    Awww I love this!! Your dad seems like a one of a kind guy! Love all of his amazing advice!

    <3 Shannon
    Upbeat Soles
    

  20. Andrea Nine
    June 18, 2015 / 1:49 pm

    Oh Biana, this made me cry! It is so parallel to what my daddy taught me. Weird too, our dads look a lot alike! What a beautiful family you have and a beautiful and strong role model!!! Have a great day sweets!!

    livingoncloudandreanine.blogspot.com

  21. agapske
    June 18, 2015 / 1:50 pm

    So sweet! Dad's are the best!

    Alyssa | Glitter and Grey

  22. Brianne
    June 18, 2015 / 1:50 pm

    Such a sweet post & such great lessons.

  23. Cory (playdates and prescriptions)
    June 18, 2015 / 1:52 pm

    This post is wonderful. I love the bond between you and your dad. And I love the "treat your spouse like royalty" advice. I don't have the best relationship with my dad, but it makes up for it with the amazing bond between my husband and daughter.

  24. Elise @ High Heels and Glittering Eyes
    June 18, 2015 / 1:54 pm

    Awww I love this post! What sweet pictures and amazing lessons you learned from your Dad!

  25. Sierra @ Beautifully Candid
    June 18, 2015 / 2:02 pm

    Such a sweet post! Your Dad has taught you some great things to live by. Your so blessed to have such a close relationship with your him. xo Winks and Eyerolls

  26. Caroline @ In Due Time
    June 18, 2015 / 2:05 pm

    How sweet! What an amazing dad you have! I love your pictures too! I love that he taught you the importance of family!

  27. Rachel McCarthy
    June 18, 2015 / 2:16 pm

    Aww! This is such a sweet post, Biana! Those are some great lessons too! Happy Thursday!

    xo, Rachel
    ablondesmoment.com

  28. Susie W.
    June 18, 2015 / 2:27 pm

    What a sweet post! Your dad really seems like an amazing man and role model, you're lucky to have him! I understand your dads text because my mom says something similar all the time, she says her kids are her best accomplishment.

    xx,
    Susie

    SequinsandStrawberries.com

  29. Shay from Great, Now What
    June 18, 2015 / 2:29 pm

    This is so sweet! What a wonderful testament to your pops!

  30. Marie
    June 18, 2015 / 2:32 pm

    This is such a sweet post. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful father and mother. Beautiful pictures.

  31. Courtney B
    June 18, 2015 / 2:45 pm

    This post totally made tear up (pregnancy, man!) it is the sweetest thing ever! Your dad is an incredible man and taught you the most important lessons, for sure!!

  32. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 2:46 pm

    I absolutely loved reading this post! Your dad sounds like an amazing person and I absolutely love your family! I love that most of the lessons he taught you were about building a strong family dynamic, it's great to see! XO -Kim
    thethirtysomethinglife.com

  33. Cupcakes and Crossbones
    June 18, 2015 / 2:47 pm

    I love this! What a smart man. He def raised an incredible woman!

  34. Kaitlin {Little Goodies Blog}
    June 18, 2015 / 2:52 pm

    OK pass the tissues – I'm getting a little misty reading this!!! SO sweet and he sounds like a such a wonderful Dad – you are truly blessed!!! (And sounds like he raised a wonderful daughter too!!) I hope I have this type of relationship with my kids when they are grown!!! xo – Kaitlin

  35. Ashley G
    June 18, 2015 / 2:55 pm

    This is so sweet!! I love each of these lessons. So true, family is everything.

  36. Zelle B.
    June 18, 2015 / 2:59 pm

    I love this! Dads are so special, for sure!
    xo Southern Style

  37. Rebecca Jo
    June 18, 2015 / 3:05 pm

    I so adore this… & your dad! What amazing lessons he has passed down.
    I love that your mom & dad have known each other for so long…
    & that he took the time to send you that picture & the thought in the real investment. What a special man he is to be so open with his thoughts & affection & love. That's hard for some men. You are blessed to have such a strong man as a role model. Your dad – the first man you ever love 🙂

  38. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 3:11 pm

    Great tips! He sounds amazing!

    Gemma
    TaipeiStyle

  39. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 3:22 pm

    This is such a cute post! Great inspiration and I love these pictures!
    ~~Megan~~
    poshprime.com

  40. Christina Lea Loves
    June 18, 2015 / 3:26 pm

    This is too sweet! I love the one about treating your spouse like royalty – so true!

  41. Pamela @ alittleglitter.com
    June 18, 2015 / 3:49 pm

    What a sweet tribute to your Dad!

  42. Nadine
    June 18, 2015 / 4:03 pm

    Awe such a sweet post full of amazing life lessons. I love it!

  43. Tiffany {A Touch of Grace}
    June 18, 2015 / 4:06 pm

    Our dads sound very similar Biana. 100% agree that your spouse should be treated like royalty. My dad taught me I deserve the best and never to expect less.
    Love that you guys talk every day. You definitely have a special bond. 🙂

  44. Meg Taylor
    June 18, 2015 / 4:13 pm

    These are fantastic, and what a great role model to have! I love that went from not knowing much English to running his own business. Also, that one about trusting your spouse is perfect. Happy almost Father's Day!

  45. Tracy
    June 18, 2015 / 4:25 pm

    I'm a total daddy's girl so this post had me smiling from ear to ear. I can relate to so many of these, especially the one about nothing being out of reach. Of all the things my dad instilled in me, that's probably the one I appreciate the most.

  46. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 4:33 pm

    You dad sounds like a wise man. I love the tip on treating your spouse like royalty! XO

    Anna
    alilyloveaffair.com

  47. Karly @ What Karly Said
    June 18, 2015 / 5:13 pm

    What a sweet post! You are so blessed with a great set of parents. I think we all can learn lessons from both your dad and mom.

  48. Emily @ Martinis | Bikinis
    June 18, 2015 / 5:19 pm

    Your dad sounds like an amazing guy and a great rock to your family! Hope has a wonderful Father's day!

  49. Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie
    June 18, 2015 / 5:25 pm

    aw! sounds like you have a great dad! I love that you talk to him every day, that is a treasure.

  50. Kelsey @ The Peacock Roost
    June 18, 2015 / 5:53 pm

    This is just the sweetest! Dads are the absolute best & yours sounds like a gem 🙂 Love the treat your spouse like royalty, and all of the other inspirational lessons he's taught you. They are great & will stick with you forever I'm sure!
    Kelsey
    thepeacockroost.com

  51. Amy @The Crazy Wise Woman
    June 18, 2015 / 6:17 pm

    A .. love this post. I am super close to my Dad too so I get it! Great pictures, he sounds like an awesome Dad!

  52. Amanda Elizabeth - Meet @ the Barre
    June 18, 2015 / 7:40 pm

    Awwwwwww so glad he has all those beautiful women in his life to spoil! He sounds remarkable and clearly he is because you are incredible and that always is a reflection of amazing parents. Loved this post girl.

  53. meandmr.com
    June 18, 2015 / 7:52 pm

    Aww I love this post! Sounds like you have an amazing dad!
    Melanie @ meandmr.com

  54. Hanging with the Hirsts
    June 18, 2015 / 7:54 pm

    This is so sweet!! Daddy-daughter relationships are seriously the best!!!

  55. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 8:12 pm

    Love this post, so sweet!

    Style by Avery

  56. Anonymous
    June 18, 2015 / 8:27 pm

    This is so sweet Biana! I love hearing about happy, healthy, mutually awesome relationships between parents and their children. You seem to be a very lucky girl with a dad like him, and I love that you're taking the time out to celebrate this great guy in your life!

  57. Julia
    June 18, 2015 / 9:03 pm

    This is just lovely, what an awesome celebration of your dad! He sounds like a truly wonderful guy!

  58. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 10:02 pm

    This post is so sweet! It sounds like your Dad taught you so many wonderful things!

    xo,
    Jessica
    fortheloveofbubbly.com

  59. Kelly Mock
    June 18, 2015 / 10:36 pm

    So sweet! Love this!

  60. Unknown
    June 18, 2015 / 10:58 pm

    Such a sweet post Biana! What a great dad you have:) I have an awesome giveaway up on my blog, I hope you'll check it out!

    Wishes & Reality

  61. Stephanie Chalk
    June 19, 2015 / 3:23 am

    What an amazing man you have as a father, role model, and dearest friend! So sweet! Xo, Stephanie

  62. Carly
    June 19, 2015 / 3:32 am

    I loved reading this and may have teared up a little bit a few times! So much good wisdom and definitely a few things I need to start doing more of in my life. Such sweet pictures of you guys together.

  63. Evelina
    June 19, 2015 / 5:40 am

    Your dad sounds amazing. I love the point about treating your spouse well. So important!!

  64. Unknown
    June 19, 2015 / 2:30 pm

    great advice from a smart dad! BE HAPPY 🙂 love that. xo jillian – cornflake dreams

  65. Nikki @ makeupHER
    June 19, 2015 / 3:59 pm

    What an amazing post, your dad sounds like such a great guy and you're lucky to have someone like him in your family! Happy Father's Day to him!

  66. Haven Way
    June 22, 2015 / 11:25 pm

    That is one smart dad! I love how close your family is 🙂

  67. Paige @ Reasons to Come Home
    June 25, 2015 / 7:35 pm

    sounds like a pretty awesome fella!

  68. Kristen @ See You In A Porridge
    June 27, 2015 / 7:04 pm

    this is such a sweet post! he sounds amazing. i don't have a father but I do have a mum who taught me a few of these as well 🙂 be happy is definitely the most important! everything else falls into place if you're happy.