As kids, I think everyone has been subject to the classic “you’ll understand it someday” line. For me, I heard it a lot from my parents. Mostly after rolling my eyes at them after listening to a tangent about learning my lesson. Said tangents were much less appreciated back then. In fact, there are days recently, as I come upon my budding adulthood, that I miss listening to my parents giving me advice about the “real world”. In fact, the rents taught me a lot about life than I realized until I started to delve myself into it.

Learn To Embrace Rejection

I’ve heard the arguments that my generation is coddled or fragile due to the way we may have been raised. And while I may have received a participation trophy here or there, I was definitely no stranger to rejection. My parents encouraged me to try a number of different activities and I’m sure they were just as afraid of a negative outcome as I was. Especially when I tried out for the basketball team in 6th grade because, well, there was no positive outcome in sight for that. The point is, they often pushed aside their instinct to protect me from the possibilities of rejection or embarrassment because they knew it would make me stronger.

Your Family Comes First

Sure, it’s cliche but what parental lesson isn’t? I definitely went through the phase of wanting to hang out with my friends and have little-to-nothing to do with quality family time. And while it may have been just a phase, I’m still grateful that my parents instilled me with the value and importance of appreciating my family.

Ask For Help When You Need It

I’ve always liked to do things on my own. Even now, I have trouble saying “no” when I have too much on my plate or accepting help from those who offer. Over the years, though, I’ve learned that it’s okay to release some of the pressure off of yourself when necessary.

Take Responsibility For Yourself

That being said, I was also taught to accept responsibility for the mistakes I make and the commitments I make.

Your Perception Of Yourself Is The Only One That Matters

Lastly, I think one of the most important lessons that I learned from my parents is one that has also been the most relevant throughout my life up to this point. I was always taught not to care what other people think or how they perceive me. Which, yes, is easier said than done. It takes practice and constant reminding that the way you view yourself is the only perception that matters. But with the help from my parents, this lesson became second nature.