Throughout our lives, we slowly realize that nothing ever goes exactly the way we plan it. Each day is a mystery with no true sense of what will happen next. And, as we go through the daily motions, we win some people and we lose some people in the process. However, at least for me, there is one single person in this world I know I can always count on, and that is my mother. I have witnessed the struggles that she has faced, and I have celebrated her triumphs as a result. She has taught me everything I know. Granted, she did not teach me the quadratic equation or where the first settlement in America was established. But what she has given me is the gift of good character and how to find myself in such a big world. Perhaps I just got lucky, but I’ve been blessed with a mom who has guided me through the beginnings of my college journey. And up until now, I haven’t really grasped that concept. Because the typical young adult can be stubborn, we shake off the advice from our parents. Here are just a few of the many ways I should have listened to my person, my best friend, my mom.
1. Receive a good night’s sleep, every night.
Sleep is a foreign concept for
almost every single one of us. A key reason for this is that we aren’t informed about the “red flag” risks of not receiving enough rest. According to the National
Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation has been linked to certain health problems later
on in life such as obesity, high blood pressure, negative moods/behaviors, and especially decreased productivity. These risk factors can most definitely
sneak up on you, especially when you need your full attention. Every
night counts, your mind and body highly depend on it. An English paper or a History quiz aren't worth risking your future health.2. Explore the products inside the handy-dandy health kit.
Wouldn’t it be a lovely college experience if our bodies were immune to sickness? It’s inevitable to live in a facility with thousands of
students and not spread all sorts of bacteria. So when the time does come, and
you’re desperately asking around for the best cough medicines and pain
relievers, why not turn to mom’s very own health kit? She spent long hours of
shopping, labelling, and assorting a survival pack that you may have only
opened once or twice. Of course, I am guilty for this too. But next time, use
the resources that you were provided with. That stuffy nose will be gone in a
flash.
3. Don’t stress over the little things. Focus on the bigger picture.
What is the bigger picture? I’m sure many of us have asked this question more than once. Why are we spending thousands and thousands of dollars each semester to possibly achieve the job of our dreams? These thoughts constantly bash against our will to pursue forward. But this is what moms are for, they are here to keep us sane. They are here to show us that nothing is impossible, and that they will love us through it all – the good, the bad, and especially the ugly. We have enough things to worry about during our time here, so eliminate as much of the unnecessary drama as possible. Focus on yourself. Open your mind and allow yourself to grow through all aspects. Something you may be stressing over now may make you chuckle a few days later.
4. Keep up with the loads of laundry.
They say the way your laundry looks represents how your life is going. In many ways this is ultimately accurate. It's hard to complete schoolwork with a dirty pairs of pants hanging off your desk. With every week that I decide to push off the dreaded trip to the laundry basement, it comes back to bite me in the behind. Yes, the quarters certainly do add up but isn't it worth it to pull on a fresh shirt to start your day? Little tasks such as these are setting each of us up for the real world. Might as well begin practicing now.
5. Call home every once in a while.
Family is forever, but one day you might not be able to pick up the phone and dial for them. Take the time to ask how they're doing, if anything has changed since leaving home, and if any interesting things are planned in the future. Trust me on this one, after hanging up the phone you'll notice that two hours have passed and that you wouldn't have wanted it any other way. There's no feeling like it. An indescribable, warm and fuzzy sensation -— something that every individual should have the pleasure of experiencing.
6. Enjoy every second.
No matter what you do or how you spend your time, make sure
it’s something you’ll look back on and feel satisfied with. Be delighted with
the memories you’ve made and the people met along the ride. Do whatever you can to capture these precious moments, whether it's through journaling or photography, because it's so easy for the mind to lose these waves of happiness. Make the most out of every rough patch, for somewhere far out there a person is struggling just a bit more. And most of all, thank the motivators in your life, especially your person, your best friend, your mom.
