Nice guys don't finish last

This is a slightly emotional post if I'm honest. I'm sat by my dad's bed as he gently slips away from us.

There are many, many reasons why I am extremely proud to be his son but one that I constantly try to live up to myself, is that my dad is a bloody nice guy. He is well-respected, much-loved and hugely liked. I am not aware of anyone who has ever had a bad word to say about him.

He continues to do the right thing by those around him (bearing in mind that the right thing isn't always the easy thing). He has made some significant sacrifices over the years (those are a story for another day), but those sacrifices were always in the service of others.

Nice guys don't finish last

Dad has led a good life. By the usual 'societal' measures, he has been extremely successful. He has done so entirely by doing right by others. No doubt he has been taken advantage of – his generosity of spirit abused by those less giving.

And yet he has never been grudging or bitter. Never badmouthed someone behind their back. In my 52 years, I have never heard him swear (the closest he ever got was in protest to the nose ring I got in art college).

The good life he has led is because (not in spite) of his determination to put others first. He is testament (and the origin of my own belief) that nice guys don't finish last.

Be kind. That has been his only rule in life. It's a pretty good rule.