I'm roughly 800 miles from home. 800 miles from the two people who molded me into the person I am today. Going to college allowed me to appreciate my mom and dad even more and allowed me to be grateful for what they taught my siblings and I. Here are 4 of the most important lessons I learned in a two-story white colonial house with green shutters and a tire swing out front.
1. Be a good friend.
Every day when my parents dropped me off at school as I was getting out of the car, they would say, "I love you. Be a good friend." It's four simple words that impacted me more than I could have ever know. I will always say that my favorite thing about myself is my ability to be a good friend and knowing that without a doubt I will do anything for my friends.
2. Just do your best.
I think perfection was something we all desperately wanted and had a hard time letting go of anything less than it. My parents weren't looking for the Stephen Hawking of our high school physics class or the David Beckham of our soccer teams. They just wanted us to strive for our best, learn from our failures, and enjoy life.
3. Make it a good day.
Along with "Be a good friend," this statement was constantly repeated in my house. If you go into the beginning of the day with a negative attitude, you will have a bad day. Actively putting in the effort to make your day a good one is what is going to get you through any hardships you encounter.
4. Be gentle with yourself.
4/4 of the McNamara children are exceedingly hard on themselves. My parents would always made the point of saying if you wouldn't be mad at someone else for something, don't be mad at yourself for that same thing. Understand you are a human being who will make mistakes.
