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What I've learned from my daughter

My daughter turns 1 today.
She's been in my life for a year, and as I've shared with many of you already, this has been the best year of my life (just ahead of the five years of marriage I've shared with my wife, she likes to remind me, and the 37 years of life I owe to my angel mother; I can never forget the women in my life because they have forged who I am and who I will be).
And in the year I've been graced with Willow, I've learned a tremendous amount from my daughter.
Without Willow I wouldn't know:
  • That I should light up with joy whenever I see a dog or horse or bird. Such creatures are a marvel, and I owe them my good mood and admiration.
  • That I should point at something and tell others to look.
  • That I should shake with excitement when I see something that excites me. This is worth celebrating, folks.
  • That I should celebrate my happiness with the world.
  • That I should rejoice when a stranger approaches me (especially an ugly old man) because everyone deserves my smile and my time. And I deserve theirs.
  • That I should wake up with a smile.
  • That I should enjoy the time I have to play because play time is fleeting. Not enough of us play enough. Besides, playing strengthens the soul.
  • That I should play because how else can I explore.
  • That I should play because how else can I learn.
  • That I should pursue every chance to explore and to learn.
  • That I should find the pleasure in the simple things (banging on a pot CAN be fun just as sitting under a tree in a green meadow can open up the world to you).
  • That I should see the entertainment that's in the world around me, and that I am a part of that.
  • That I should accept that it's OK to concentrate on the things I like.
  • That I should take a nap when I can because naps rejuvenate the soul and brighten your day.
  • That I should laugh often and heartily because laughs make the world a happier place.
  • That I can never have enough kisses. They give you a spark of energy and happiness.
  • That I can never have enough hugs. They calm your fretfulness and worry.
  • That sometimes I need to cry over spilled milk (then promptly accept a hug).
  • That sometimes I should not cry over spilled milk because messes aren't worth the stress (and sometimes they can be downright fun).
  • That I should pace myself.
  • That I should expect to fall sometimes and be ready for it and ready to dust off.
  • That I won't be ready for falls all the time, so I'll need my friends and family to help me up.
  • That I should cherish my time with friends and family because I owe them the love they give to me, and I owe them my happiness.
  • That I am happy.
  • And lastly, that I cannot love Willow's mother too much. She is the angel who brought light to my world, and she brought Willow to my life, and to yours.
All this, and more, I've learned from my baby girl.

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