Champion of the underdog

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 Dear Me,


Well, here I am, back in the hospital—a place that holds echoes of the past, a mix of heavy and light memories. Last time around, it was with Dad, facing stage 4 cancer like an uninvited guest crashing the party of life. To say those words hit hard is an understatement. Inside, I wanted to crumble, but outside, I had to keep up the facade. It's funny how my insides rarely matched the polished exterior.


Life, my dear, is a quirky house of cards. Walk in, everything's Pinterest-worthy. Open a drawer, and chaos spills out like confetti. I've always liked to think of it as the 'Drawer Dilemma'—everything might look amazing until you dare to open that one drawer.


Yet, as I sit here, I find myself reminiscing about Dad. His journey was a rollercoaster of resilience. When hit with the news, he didn't flinch. Instead, he thanked the universe for the heads up. Who does that? How could he be so darn confident when the world seemed to be playing Jenga with his life? "I'm always taken care of," he said. Certainty in chaos—I was puzzled.


Spending time with him became my priority, and looking back, I wonder how the heck I managed it all. Running a multimillion-dollar business, juggling a non-profit, consulting, and motherhood to two high school freshmen. The frequent flyer miles between Savannah, SC, NC, and Louisiana were adding up, yet I tried to be at every doctor's appointment. Weekends were for him, and if I wasn't working, we were together.


Growing up, Dad and I didn't share a lot of moments, but when we did, they were golden. He tried to instill wisdom in me, and honestly, I wasn't the most receptive. Now, as I reflect, those seeds he planted have grown into life-altering lessons.


During his illness, people would console with, "We're so sorry. You're such a good man; you didn't deserve this." Dad's response? "Why not me?" It struck me—the idea that bad things don't discriminate. Everything's a lesson, and embracing it is the key.


Society fed me the fairy tale that good things happen to good people, and bad things to bad people. But let's be real—I know I've got a good soul, and bad things have still swung my way. Dad's lesson? Painful experiences are just that—in the moment. They only consume if I let them.


Blessed with parents who radiated love for helping others, I've become a champion for the underdog. Life cast me as the underdog for a while, and guess what—I turned into the champion. Mom and Dad instilled that in me—to do good always. And yet, here's the kicker: their teachings made me believe everyone else's needs mattered more than mine. Asking for help felt like burdening others, until I realized I don't see others as burdens, so why consider myself one?


So many lessons today, dear journal. Thanks, Daddy, for loving me through it all. May your soul continue to rest in peace.


Yours, always,


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