Eventually, you get old enough to realize all of their crazy life talks aren't that crazy and their nuggets of wisdom are worth storing up. They've lived a lot of life and done it pretty darn well. Here's some of the best advice I know from a couple of the experts themselves: Dads.
1. Always pay your taxes.
I'm cherishing the days now when my Dad is still in charge of this.
2. Be loyal to your spouse.
I'm lucky enough to get to see this one in action with my parents. 36 years of marriage and those crazy kids are still going strong. Looks like they take their own advice, and have proven it works.
3. Always show up on time.
Five minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. Still a hard pill to swallow.
4. Nothing good happens after midnight.
I'm pretty sure they've been telling us this one just so they can get to sleep at a decent hour. Works for me considering I'm useless by 9:30 p.m.
5. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
As a college student, this isn't always easy. But man, it is necessary.
6. Never let your gas gage get below ¼ tank.
Dad, I have to be honest, this is the hardest one for me to live up to. But I'm working on it. Hey, I haven't run out of gas in the middle of nowhere yet, so that's something.
7. Know your body, know your money, know your plan.
This pretty much says it all. Basically, just stay woke about yourself.
8. Never give up on something just because it’s hard.
My dad always told us "a Kondas never quits!" growing up. My sister and I would always roll our eyes back then, but now I'm thankful for the determination to persevere.
9. Never spend more than you can earn.
The cold hard truth. Practical, yet equally disappointing.
10. I’ll take dedication, discipline, and determination over brilliance any day.
Being the clearly less intelligent sibling in my family, this was and still is incredibly encouraging.
11. Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
Waste not, want not. Maybe if I listened to this more I wouldn't have a closet full of clothes I literally never wear.
12. Be the best you can be – mind, body & spirit.
"Think of it like a tripod. If one of the legs is broken, the whole structure will fall over." Dad, this makes more sense to me the older I get.
13. If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing right.
Just don't be lazy. If you do it right the first time, you won't have to do it again. School assignments, house projects, really everything is applicable here.
14. Prior preparation prevents poor performance.
I guess this is kind of like the real-life version of always do your research. I hate research, but I guess it's worth it.
15. Good auto maintenance could save your life.
Long live the Suburban. But really, that thing will probably never die.
16. Why not do it right now?
Let's be honest, "I will later" is almost always code for "it's never getting done." Be efficient.
17. Don't go into debt for a depreciating asset.
Okay, is this even English?! Apparently, it is. To put it in normal human terms, make good financial investments. Once you start signing off on the big purchases, get your dad's opinion first.
18. You can never wear too much sunscreen.
Speaking from someone who has learned this the hard way many many times, it's not worth the argument and it's definitely not worth the sunburn.
19. It doesn't hurt to drive under the speed limit.
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more annoying than driving behind someone going 30 in a 35. But hey, it's better than a speeding ticket... I guess.
20. Prayer is a privilege.
When we were kids we always tried to avoid getting the job of praying before the meal. My dad always said it was a privilege. I didn't get it then, but I do now. What a privilege it is to commune with the God of the universe and to do so together with your family. You're so right dad, prayer is most definitely a privilege.
