The Gift My Father Left Me

I miss my dad.

Lately, I find myself thinking about him more and more. And each time I do, I notice something unexpected—I smile.

He was my encourager. No matter what I did or what stage I was in, he always pushed me forward. He was always in high spirits, always reminding me that I was going to get there one day. That I was on the right path. That I should just keep going.

And now, as I wind down with festivals for Yikascorner for the moment, I’ve been focusing on finishing the website and building out the shop page. But then reality sets in—I don’t even have that many products yet.

Then I was reminded of something my dad once sent me.

It was an article about a woman who left tech and started her own lifestyle home décor brand. When she launched, she only had five products.

For some reason, that came back to me so clearly. And I realized—I had already been thinking along those same lines. That even if I only had one product, I should still launch. Start small. Start where I am.

And then that article showed up… like a quiet echo of him.

Because honestly, it feels like something only my father would have sent me. That was his way—always encouraging, always affirming, always quietly letting me know I was capable, even when I doubted myself.

I remember our conversations. He would always say, “Don’t worry, you’ll get there soon. Just keep going. You’re on the right path.”

I miss hearing his voice.

Sometimes it still feels surreal, like I should be able to call him and tell him what I’m working on. But I can still hear him in my mind, clear as ever.

And maybe that’s the gift of it all.

Not that he’s gone—but that I get to keep him in memory. In moments. In echoes of encouragement that still show up when I need them most. Memories I probably took for granted when he was here. Things I thought would always be available to me… until they weren’t.

That’s what death leaves us with. Not just absence, but memory. And sometimes, the “what ifs.”

But even in the tears, I find gratitude. Because I got that love. I got that encouragement. I got those moments with my father.

And I’m learning to carry them forward.

So my encouragement to you today is simple:

Enjoy life as it comes—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Take it all in.

Don’t wait.

Make the call. Send the message. Say “I love you.” Say “I’m sorry.” Say what needs to be said now, not later.

Because tomorrow is never promised.

And what we’re left with is memory—so make them worth remembering.

Have a beautiful week, and may you be blessed.

with Love,

Yika ❤️