My dad might just be the most inspiring person in my life. One year ago, my dad decided it was time for a change. At fifty years old and over two hundred pounds, he knew something had to change. So every day, for the past year, he has gotten up at 5 a.m. and ridden his bike. Even if he was tired, cold, or sore, he got up and put in the time to improve himself. Now, one year later and over 20 pounds down, my dad looks healthier than ever.

My dad has probably been the most influential person in shaping my life. It was because of my dad that I started playing video games, watching anime, and playing sports. When I was six, he showed me how to play basketball. Granted, I wasn’t very good at it, but we still enjoyed playing every weekend. Now, whenever I play any kind of competitive sport, I think of him. Playing sports with my dad instilled the competitive spirit in me that I carried to water polo. Another time he’s influenced me was whenever I got my hair cut as a kid; my dad would put on an episode of Dragon Ball, leaving me captivated by the anime whenever he needed me to stay still. The time watching the show instilled a love for anime in me that hasn’t faded to this day. My dad playing video games was something I will never forget. He used to play Clash of Clans, a city building and strategy game, almost every day. In Clash of Clans there is a currency called gems, used to speed up almost everything in the game, from gathering resources to waiting for buildings to upgrade. They weren’t very easy to get, but my dad saved thousands of them without paying a cent, so when I saw that after dropping to zero gems yet again, I really started to appreciate his patience.

But by far my favorite thing about him is his ability to improve himself, and it’s something I truly respect. Dad, your weight loss journey has been extremely impressive, not missing a day unless you are sick. That discipline is truly inspiring, and it’s that mindset that I wish I could be able to emulate one day. I really hope you know how much of an impact you’ve had on my life. It’s truly hard to express in words how much I appreciate you for being my father.