I am going to take a little bit of a different approach in this post. While having an overarching Big Why in your life is vitally important to your success, we all have a variety of roles (purposes) that we fulfill on a daily basis. One of these for me is being the father of a little girl. So this message is for the dads of daughters out there. It is how we treat and love our daughters that will dictate how they will allow their boyfriends and husbands to treat and love them as well. It is also how we treat our wives that will instill in them what is the proper way for wives (them) to be treated. Another vital role that we play is to give them the confidence they need in life. Confidence not only with how to deal with and be dealt with by boys, but with their friends who are also girls who will inevitably be nasty and mean to them. In light of all of this, I went old school on my daughter today and made her a mixed tape (playlist) along with the reason why I chose each song. I hope it will instill in her some of the key lessons of life that she can take with her when we are no longer living in the same house. Below is the song list along with the message I gave her. Feel free to steal this word for word if you want, just make sure your daughter is getting these lessons from you as well.
Roar, Katy Perry – This song is about speaking your mind, in a good way. Don’t be afraid to tell people your thoughts and how you feel. Your feelings matter just as much as anyone else’s.
Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield – I love how much you love to read. That will take you very far. But your life is also a book, and you get to write it. You can make it say whatever you want, so make it a masterpiece. Make it amazing.
Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon – You are a very smart, very studious, very together person. Just don’t forget to let your hair down and have some crazy fun once in a while.
Live Like You Were Dying, Tim McGraw – Along the same lines as Shut Up and Dance, this song should remind you to experience as much in this life as you can. You never know when your life on this earth will end and you be with Jesus in Heaven. Seize every opportunity you can to experience something new, to travel to somewhere different. And don’t let things get you too riled up. In the grand scheme of things, most things are not life and death. It helps keep everything in perspective.
Lean on Me, Bill Withers – Not only is this one of the best songs ever written, it is a good reminder to be there for your friends when they need you. It is also a good reminder to let your friends be there for you when you need them.
Firework, Katy Perry – This song talks about revealing your true self to the world instead of keeping it a secret. It tells us not to be afraid of what we have and who we really are, but to be proud of it. You are unique and beautiful, let people know the real you.
What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction – I just love the line “you light up my world like nobody else…” I think this song is about staying humble, not just in looks but in everything. You are beautiful and smart and so many things, and others will see that.
Just to See You Smile, Tim McGraw – I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I would do just about anything to see you smile (just about). But don’t push it, I am still your daddy and for a few more years what I say goes😊 I love your smile, you should use it as much as you possibly can.
The Day Before You, Matthew West – Well, I don’t ever have to go back to a time when I did not know you, and I thank God for that.
Butterfly Kisses, Bob Carlisle – I get emotional when I hear this song. It makes me think about how you are growing faster and faster into a woman and eventually you will leave my love and protection for the protection and love of another boy. Just make sure he loves you as much as I do and treats you as good as I do. Or else…
Watercolor Sunrise, Willy Porter – Well, because this song just had to be on here😊