Yours Truly,

He was rushing to the hospital that day. Driving past red lights when no cars were there, honking through passersby, barely stopping at stop signs. Sliding left and right to get ahead of others, one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding her hand, which she was squeezing intermittently, holding back her pain. Looking at her from time to time, to make sure she was okay. She hadn’t seen him like this in quite awhile, he was more reckless when she first met him- he changed through his experiences, changing to make her feel safer, because he was starting a family, but this was an exception, an emergency.

There was a crash. Taillights flickering on and off, debris scattered across the intersection, drips of blood landing on the concrete. It wasn't his fault, but he blamed himself for it every single day. The other car drove under the influence, speeding through the snow covered streets and crashing into the passenger side of their vehicle. He couldn't avoid them in time. The ambulance arrived within a few minutes, colors of red and blue in the sirens. He undid her seatbelt, blood and scrapes across his arms and some across his face, gently lifting her in his hands, carrying her to the stretcher. Kissing her and never leaving her side. They rushed her there as fast as possible- she was in labor. They were having a daughter.

Her father never blamed anyone for anything. He believed that the only way forward was to claim a form of responsibility. He looked for improvements in himself to anything that ever happened around him. Because he knew that the only way for things to get better, was to do better himself. Sometimes it was his fault, and other times it didn't involve him. But he knew that even if there was something he could've done differently, perhaps whatever happened, might not have happened. That was how he taught the people who worked for him. To take accountability for themselves, while being compassionate and direct in issues and confrontations. That was the only way to grow. Leaders are responsible for what may go wrong no matter what. Setting the example for improved changes. Because it was the leader’s fault for not managing and guiding carefully, and sometimes simply in that mistakes happen. But they trust, trusting others to lead alongside, in their own individual and unique way.

When you lead or take responsibility. Any mistake. Is your mistake.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12, John Wooden).

Which was why he always worked alongside those who worked beneath him. Because to truly understand what someone goes through and to be able to help them is to be by their side. He wasn’t always there, but he made sure to do so from time to time to return to the roots. And that was how he treated people, all equally, often those who were new, never knew he was in charge because he didn’t care to make that known, he didn’t care for those formalities. It was a greater reason for respect.

-

He didn't care what had happened, he only cared that she didn't tell him the truth. Sometimes it was about honesty, sometimes respect, sometimes her safety, it was to raise her to be mature with moral principles. Someone like the mother she never met. And as she grew older, she made more decisions on her own. Because even if he raised her with the values he held, he wanted her to be true to herself.

"I know it's not my business, it is your personal space and I want to respect that- But I hope you know, that I'll always be here to listen, if you ever want to share anything."

In the end, her father was always there to guide her. What values do you share?