6 Life Lessons My Father Taught Me That I Realised Too Late

No, school didn’t tell you this, but college does.

There are regrets, and then there are sacrifices. Sacrifice is what our parents do lifelong. Disappointment is not returning them the life they deserve after they have done enough for us.

My father is a symbol of tough love who cares only about results. It is natural for any parent. That is why they raise you like a star!

The advice from tough love feels challenging to follow because it is practical. It requires you to put effort and keep putting it unless you reach a level where pragmatism becomes your life principle.

Below are some of the life lessons that I’ve learned until now. If you give a thought, some of them might even relate to you too. My school did not teach me this, but I sure did realise these lessons while I was in college:

1. Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument

Judgment comes from wisdom. Wisdom says that you support your decision with a valid reason that is ready to face any questions that comes your way.

Parents are entitled to be loud. They shout at you because they know the risk if they don’t stop you from taking a wrong step. They want you to see the truth of life as soon as possible so that you live your purpose most genuinely by becoming responsible at an early age.

2. If you are not on time, save your excuses and don’t talk to me

He used to drop me to school 5 minutes before the scheduled time. He cooked food for us so that we can sleep early, become a morning person and never miss a day for school. That’s what happened to me. I am the youngest, and I didn’t know what else he’ll do to make us hard hustlers.

The result? My school attendance was 100%. The only time when I was absent was the time around mid-October. The climate change from summer to winter, where you have to be cautious about the temperature changes around you. If you are not attentive enough, you will suffer from inadvertent cough, which will drag you depending on your carelessness.

3. No one cares, so don’t pay too much attention

This one is still a hard truth to embrace right now. But you learn this as you enter adulthood to take up full responsibility to accept whatever happens in your life.

You realise what people matter to you. You find out how to make good friends. You’ll also face people who will teach you the art of letting go.

4. Words are fragile, be careful when you step out

Words are like one-way arrows. Especially if they are curse words and you said that in strong emotion, the other person remembers how you made them feel and this forever remains your image of in their head.

Especially if it comes from a negative emotion like rage, anger, nervosity, etc., you will jeopardise your relationship.

If it comes from a peaceful mind, then you’ll end up making new connections, even with a stranger. Still, keeping the expectations low and be wary of what you speak as you grow up.

5. As long as quality matters, the money isn’t a problem

Money and quality are relative terms. You can’t put a number on quality. And if you can’t put a cap, then you won’t judge the quality by only money.

I see a lot of my friends who follow the easy route by not spending single money or even blaming at the end why they didn’t get enough fun on the cost-free path. That’s because they are considering cash as something that’ll define their self-worth. It can be valid to some extent, yes, but investing it will return more powerful than just taking a jugaad.

Jugaad is a Hindi word most commonly used in India. Definition from Google — a flexible approach to problem-solving that innovatively uses limited resources. While I searched it’s translation in English, I couldn’t find it because there aren’t any. Oxford dictionary even added this word in its update of 2017. Hahaha!

6. Don’t compromise your smile

I laugh like a maniac. I got this trait from my dad. Now imagine how he would laugh! I have to trigger it in him nowadays because he is not the jovial guy he used to be.

Still, talking with him is more than attending a stand-up comedy, I tell you. Sometimes I laugh with him more than all my friends combined. Yes, only sometimes because some jokes turn out dead-serious for him, then it becomes awkward for me.

Closing message

The above list looks like an exhaustive one. But it’s not. These are some of the lessons that I could up with from the top of my head.

The next time I write a similar article, I’ll update it with new additions because I am learning continuously. The six lessons I mentioned above, I realised this after I entered my college life.

There is still an age difference of more than 30 years. Who knows what new lessons I’ll learn in life that I’ll thank him for in another blog! The good thing is — he reads every day.

This blog belongs to a series of posts I am publishing on a daily streak. The first two targets were day 21 and 100. The next aim is day 150. Today is day 122. Here is the first blog that started the streak.

Thank You for reading! See you tomorrow!

~ S.