Have you had someone in your life help you think differently, to challenge the norms? For me that person is my Dad, otherwise known as Ricardo, or Rich for short.
I was raised in a mostly traditional household with my dad working in a manufacturing job (maintaining sewing machines in a factory, then later moving to quality assurance for electronics), while my mom was a homemaker. (She's pretty amazing too.)
Although my Dad did the regular workaday thing, I came to realize that he thought and did things a bit differently. He's very philosophical and logical, and tends to play it safe, yet he's also a bit of a rebel in rejecting stereotypes. He taught me to be responsible, but also to think for myself, not to always accept things on face value.
He was strict with me as his only daughter and the oldest of 6 kids, but also encouraged me to step back from following a path just because I thought I "should," and consider alternatives. I didn't always listen to him, but looking back on those times, he was usually right. Even when I messed up big time, he was still there to hold me up and help me get back on track.
Because of his support (and many others along the way) I eventually had enough confidence to go to college, become a CPA, and then later to leave that career to do something that I really love - teaching yoga! To this day I bounce things off him when things are changing in my life and know that he is always my guiding light.
Whether you are a father, or you're celebrating or remembering one, I hope you have had someone like this in your life you can thank today.