My father turned 65 today! He is a wonderful and positive man, and I have been so blessed to have grown up with a father with a passion for wisdom and sharing that wisdom with others.

Throughout my childhood (and still today), my dad would regularly have a new tidbit of information to share, an interesting story to tell, or an article to pass along. He enjoys the learning process, and he encouraged us to regularly learn something new, designing assignments for us along the way. For instance, when my siblings and I learned how to drive, he made sure that each of us knew how to change the oil in our car, and to change a tire, should we ever run into an issue (which has certainly come in handy). It’s no surprise to me that I have such a passion for education - my father modeled the way in his everyday living, demonstrating the learning is a lifelong process, and a passion that we should all keep.

I called my dad today to wish him a happy birthday, and we ended up having a long and beneficial conversation about my pending search for a new vehicle. My dad’s extensive knowledge of financial matters has led him to make very wise and practical financial decisions that have blessed my family greatly, and I am so thankful that he is willing to share this wisdom with me. I love that a casual chat often becomes a life lesson, and I am thankful for his experience and advice.

The source of my father’s desire to teach and learn came directly from his father. My Grandfather was the most positive and encouraging man I have ever met, and he would regularly tear out articles from the newspaper or magazines to share with us, often about people who had done wonderful things for others. I can see so much of my grandfather in my dad, and I can only hope that others can see both of them in me.

This past year, I’ve been actively learning and teaching others about understanding and utilizing their Strengths as defined by the Clifton Strength Finder tool/StrengthsQuest. My passion to continue learning more about Strengths (which fits clearly with my ‘Learner’ Strength) led me to want to know more about the Strengths of my family members. In January, I had the unique opportunity to talk about Strengths with my younger brother (who is currently a college freshman) and my dad. It came as no surprise to me that I share three of my five Strengths with my father - Maximizer, Learner, and Input - and that these Strengths relate so clearly to education. So cool!

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you so much!