Any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad!

I recall all the things I had did prior to becoming a dad, the wild parties, wild women, drag races and truth to say illegal activities. I thought I was indestructible and had no fear in anyone nor of death, I assumed I was unstoppable in so many ways. I was young, naive, ignorance yet on the top of my game, everything I worked hard for was merely for temporary happiness. In truth everything I attained was expendable and had zero value to me. I burned it away like paper with no regret nor remorse. Oh stupid I was, how utterly stupid I surely was.

I drove fast cars, walked the red carpet more times than I can recall and bumped shoulders with celebrities on a weekly basis. I was on television many times, got what I wanted and thought I knew it all. However I was ignorant to assume that for I knew nothing. I would not come to learn anything about life, myself and family until much later.

Yet during those past times I can honestly admit that I lived the dream many wished to live. Yet in truth I now know it was nothing but a facade of happiness, a personal nightmare filled with drama, fake friends and users/abusers. At that time I assumed I knew what I wanted, and due to my ignorance I soon became a pawn to everything society told me I should or should not do. I worked hard and played harder not for myself, but for the gratification and praise of others. Alas for so many decades I had done this and in truth none of it mattered at all, none of it. The big houses were just a status symbol that decayed over time, the nice cars depreciated and became but a mere example of temporary happiness for soon even they would rust and wither away.

For unto I was born a son

I recall the day my son was born, the moment I saw his tiny hands and feet, his little smile. I was in a state of mixed emotions both of happiness and of fear, for I was now a father. I do not think I was ready for such a move, because I answered to no one and did as I wanted. Little did I know that would change over time, and my way of thinking would hit a more mature level than ever imagined. I remembered the first six months after having him, I nearly losing my mind adapting to this little child in my life. The restless nights with no sleep, the constant crying and the diaper changing. I was truly scared because this was something I could not back away from, this was my destiny and I had to embrace it openly. For you see any man can become a father, but few men can become real dads.

The following six month became easier and I found myself getting better at it. Thereafter I came to terms why I became a father, perhaps it was a sense of salvation I was looking for in my wild days, perhaps it was a sense of purpose in which I needed more than ever. You see, becoming a dad gave my life new hope, new inspiration and surely new purpose. I came to terms that I was no longer living for myself but for him, I was no longer indestructible but rather more cautious because I had a child to stick around for. I was no longer wild, but rather focused on self control for I had to be in order to keep him secure and safe.

The wild parties were replaced by milk and cookies and teaching my son right from wrong. The fast cars and the need for speed replaced by slowing down not for me but for he. The wild women became nothing but a fading thought for I needed no one else but the mother of my child. I soon came to understand what being a father was about , and a part of me deep down wished I had done it sooner. I also came to comprehend that my lack of fear for death was the last thing on my mind, because now I had love for life and for being the best dad I could be. I no longer even grasped the thought of committing illegal acts nor did I do anything remotely dangerous for my life was no longer my own. My life now belonged to him and everything I did or do, all the blood, sweat and tears I shed I do so for his future.

"My son's greatness will never be measured by my actions, but rather by the actions of my son due to my guidance and teachings" ~ George Mercado

I eventually sold off some of my toys to ensure my son was well taken care of. In truth none of my expensive toys had any value to me so I refrained from purchasing anymore. I did so surely not because I could not afford them, but because that money I would rather invest in my son and his teachings, his education and his future. In my mind I came to the notion that all the things I had done prior to him being born no longer held value. All the things I did after his birth was done with purpose, with meaning, with his future and life in mind and that inspired me greatly. I used his love for me and my love for him to recharge my energy and pushed me harder to excel for he was my muse.

After my son's birth my insecurity, doubts and fears subsided over time and nearly vanished because I had no time for and of such matters. All I had time for was for confidence, determination, motivation and positive progress. I knew that if I quit or gave up, I would not be failing solely myself, but rather failing him and that is something I refuse to do. I refused to be a deadbeat dad or a dad who put his own priorities before his son. So in turn I learned how to self sacrifice, how to survive with less and how to invest into myself and into my finances for his future. I stopped buying the things I would have had purchased in the past openly. Instead now I solely purchase things that would not only improve his life, but nurture his spark of learning,

Now every morning when I awake, I hold my son and kiss him. You see he is my salvation, my purpose, the ray of light that guides me out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of maturity. In my opinion being a Dad is by far the best accomplishment I will ever do in life, for it reaps not financial reward but spiritual reward. It allows me to come to terms with the fact that I can unselfishly give of myself and of my life for him. I do so in order to ensure that his future will be far greater than mine can ever be and I am okay with that.

So in conclusion I now openly state for the Fathers out there. Please be a dad not merely a father, teach them young, give them the tools to not only follow in your footstep, but to redefine your path so that he/she can make it their own.

Yours Truly
~ George Mercado

Please feel free to like, reseteem, upvote or to walk away appreciating this precious honor and gift called being a dad.