There are two areas in which I hold myself to very high standards: being a good husband and father, and also setting goals for myself.
I pride myself on dedicating almost all of my free time and energy to my family, whether it is helping them with something, cooking a meal, or having fun and enjoying a movie or sports game. Feeling loved and appreciated is perhaps the biggest benefit of being a “family man”, but there are several more. Being a good role model, setting a good example, and being a good provider are all added benefits of setting high standards as a father and a husband. I got married when I was 19, and I immediately had the responsibility of providing for my wife and my step-daughter. Because I had so much responsibility when I was young, I was forced to mature and grow up fast. My wife helped to develop my parenting skills, along with my confidence to live up to the high standards that her and I set for myself. Just as she holds herself to high standards as a mother and wife, I do the same in a father and husband capacity. Over the years I’ve fine-tuned my skills and abilities to overcome change and difficulties in my marriage while maintaining a good relationship with my wife. My maturity has increased every year with the help of my wife, through hard work and dedication. My priorities seem to have changed as well. My family now takes priority over every other person or function in my life, where they may not have in my early years of marriage.
I also hold myself to the standard of setting both short-term and long-term goals for myself. When I do not have goals in my future, I feel as if I am less accomplished, almost as if I have nothing to feel motivated about or to look forward to. My wife consistently empowers me to set goals for myself, both personally and professionally. My first goals included starting college courses and getting home from Iraq alive, and my current goals include finishing my master’s degree, obtaining a promotion at work, and spending more quality time with my family. I feel that over the years my goals have become more difficult to obtain. I enjoy achieving smaller goals that require less time and energy, but long term goals are typically harder to obtain and require much more effort, time, and resources. I think that as time goes by, I will become even more goal oriented. I also feel that this standard I hold myself to will have a positive impact on my first standard, which was being a good husband and father.
No goal is unattainable when you have the right people behind you.
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