Five Ways My Daughter Has Made Me a Stronger Man.

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From day one of her life, my daughter was a warrior, fighting for her life.

When my wife was 18 weeks along during our first pregnancy, we were informed that our little princess would require open-heart surgery at birth in order to survive.

As a new dad, everything changed.

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I had to learn how to be a rock for my family, a loving father for my baby, and wear many hats that I’d never worn before.  And can you guess who taught me all of this?  My daughter.

These are the five ways this little girl taught me to be a stronger man:

How to be fearless.

This little ray of sunshine survived open-heart surgery at three days old. I would wager that is harder than anything I’ll ever do – and with her strength, I’m confident that I can do anything.  And I will.  Except for skydive… again. That wasn’t fun at all.  I definitely threw up in my mouth a little.

How to fight like a warrior.

The night after her surgery, my wife and I watched as our daughter flatlined four times throughout the night. Our worlds had stopped.  The machines started beeping loudly. Doctors and nurses rushed into the room and performed CPR to bring her back, knowing CPR has helped me save one family member already, if you will like to learn too, check out this CPR Classes in Arlington.  And then, a few hours later it happened again. And again. But my daughter kept fighting. She didn’t give up. At that moment, I realized that if she was never going to give up, then I couldn’t either.  I would fight, fight, fight for everything I want in life, and never stop.  Unless it’s getting my wife to put the spoons facing upwards in the dishwasher or stopping my kids from wiping mouthfuls of toothpaste on my shower towel –these are okay to give up on sometimes.

How to stay strong. 

I’ve always enjoyed working out, but once I had kids, I took it to the next level. I want to be there for my kids with a healthy heart and healthy mind. I turned into a ‘jogging stroller machine’, running miles and miles with my daughter in tow.  It was one of the earliest ways that we bonded. I incorporated my kids into a workout routine so I could spend time with them, but also stay fit so I could be around for them as long as possible.  Long story short, I’m probably on the same playing field as Thor.  Okay, perhaps I’m stretching the truth by a 4-pack or so, but you get the point.

How to love.

I’ve loved my parents and sisters since forever, and fell head over heels for my wife. But the way that you love your kids? That’s next level. I believe the idea of being able to love unconditionally makes you stronger, and I have my daughter to thank for that.

How to be a leader.

I was always most comfortable fitting in with the crowd. Going with the flow. Being one of the guys. After her birth, something clicked inside of me. I knew that I could be anything I wanted to be. The day that I first saw her face was when I launched Life of Dad as a small blog, sharing my daughter’s stories and health updates. After she got healthier, I set my sights on a larger goal: Celebrating and supporting dads all around the world.  Building a strong team around me, I’ve become a leader, making my dreams come true and helping dads all around the world. I owe that to my daughter.

Without my daughter Barbara, none of the above happens.  She taught me how to act and live like a warrior.

Speaking of warriors, do yourself a favor and pick-up Thor:Ragnarok on blu-ray OR digital download today. Some might say that I was the one imprisoned on the other side of the universe, facing off against a Hulk of a life experience. But warriors battle and warriors win.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Disney and Thor:Ragnarok, however the life lessons are all mine. For more information on the release of the Thor:Ragnarok blu-ray and digital download release, check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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