Hi Dad,
I just wanted to write this to let you know how much you mean to me
I’m not a very open or expressive person by nature
But on this fine day, I wanted to open up my heart to you and let you know how I’ve been feeling
Sometimes we only truly recognize the value of things when we’re about to lose them

About two weeks ago, I thought my life was collapsing
The imminent threat of your demise shook me from within
I often run away from the way I actually feel
For the first time in my life, this was something I couldn’t run away from

You have been there for me since the beginning of my existence
From my first breaths to my journey back to the US
Life hasn’t been fair to you
But you are the gift that keeps on giving

I’ve met many people in life, some of extraordinary caliber
I’ve looked up to many celebrities, just hoping for a chance to meet them
In not one of them have I seen such a capacity to handle other people
You take the world’s blows while giving back more and more

I’m mesmerized by your work ethic and astounded by your grit
Though you’re quick to get angry, your empathy is ceaseless
I wish you all the best in your next life
Honestly, I don’t deserve you, and you don’t deserve this existence

I’m an atheist, so I don’t believe in any higher power
Nevertheless, I see you as the source of my power
Aside from being my creator, you’ve been my source of nurturing
Without you, the world felt like it had lost its meaning

I’m a firm believer in nihilism, the philosophy that there is no meaning to life
In the wake of your ambulance ride, I found my purpose and meaning
Maybe life has no meaning logically, but in my heart, you really matter
I can hide from the world, but not hide from myself

I gave up on my self long ago, but you kept pushing me
So far and so hard that you almost lost yourself
Thanks to you, I’ve had an epiphany on my life
What on earth have I been doing

I feel like I’ve made this a little too dark and existential
So let’s lighten the mood a bit
I’ve seen a lot in your wake
Nothing has amazed me more than your enthusiasm

When it comes to carrying out tasks, you execute them with absolute persistence
Nothing seems to stop you, not even your own body, it seems
You are the foundation of the tree
No matter how much I chop off, you keep growing

So today on this momentous occasion, I come to show my gratitude
I’m quite self-centered and egotistical, so this doesn’t really come naturally to me
Thank you for all that you keep doing
And thank you for being the wake-up call in my life that I absolutely needed

Happy Father’s Day, Sanjeev
I hope that you spend the rest of your life in extreme bliss and happiness
You deserve more credit than you can think of
I just hope one day I can live up to your legacy