Life Lessons
6 Lessons Learned From My Parents
The most important life lessons, according to my parents.
My parents are extraordinary people. I learned many lessons while living under their roof and even more since moving out.
After writing an article about the most important lessons my parents taught me, I realized I hadn’t actually asked what lessons they valued most.
As it turns out, the lessons they listed hadn’t even made my list of 25. Turns out, I still have more to learn from them.
1. Being nice to others is always worth your time.
This first lesson comes from my mom. As an elementary school teacher, she constantly preaches the Golden Rule. Kindness above all else. I have seen her live by this rule my entire life, and I must admit, I haven’t seen it end badly.
2. Never stop being curious and never stop learning.
Anyone who knows my dad knows that he is a huge history buff. Being a mail carrier, he spends a lot of time driving. He fills most of that time listening to audiobooks about ancient civilizations, wars, and conquerors. While some of his random facts might seem a little out-of-nowhere, I can confidently say that my dad is one of the most intelligent people I know.
3. Sleep on it.
As a kid, I hated this sentence. Any time I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, my mom would tell me to sleep on it. If I still want to do XYZ in the morning, then she won’t argue. To make matters worse, she was usually right. I would wake up in the morning no longer thinking my plans were such a good idea. This is a good and healthy practice for any big decisions, whether material or emotional.
4. Spend your money on memories, not material possessions.
This is a mantra that I have watched my dad live by my entire life. I’ve also seen it pay off for him. My parents live by a very strict budget not by necessity, but by choice. Because of this, they built their dream house 12 years after getting married. 10 years later they bought the lake cottage that my dad has been dreaming about since he was a kid. Now they have two places purchased for the sole reason of making memories.
5. Always make time for those you love.
As a person that my mom often makes time for, I can honestly say that this is so important. When someone you love needs you, they need you. It’s just that simple.
6. Approach life with a smile and a laugh.
Sometimes life throws you a curveball. While a positive attitude won’t make your problems go away, it can take some of the pressure off. If you are going into every situation looking for issues, you will find them.
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