Father’s Day is fast approaching.  As we each reflect on our own fathers and the influence they have had on our lives, we wanted to share some personal thoughts with you as well as what is important to a Maasai father.
 
PHILIP LEAKEY -“By example, my father showed me the importance of being independent, being a doer, and to be passionate about life.  I always tell young people to be a “player,” not a spectator.  If you want to live a full life, you must be down on the field, not sitting in the stands.  Be independent! Carve out your own way of thinking and doing things.  Passion not only creates drive, it creates curiosity.  These three traits are fundamental for creating a life filled with purpose.”

KATY LEAKEY - “My father always said, “Do what you love, and you will do it well.  Because you do it well, you will be well rewarded.”  With his constant moral support, I carved out my life as an artist against the advice of my contemporaries who said I could never make a living at it.  My father was right, and they were wrong.  I will always be grateful to him for encouraging me to follow my passions.”

Over the past several years, I have asked many rural Maasai women what their father taught them and invariably the answer was, “How to take care of cattle.”  This is one of the most important lessons for Maasai children because cattle are a family’s livelihood.