My parents are pretty great. Not that I'm biased or anything, but they're the two most supportive and loving people on the planet. They always know what to say that will motivate me, cheer me up, or just make me laugh.
Aside from being hilarious, encouraging, and caring, they're incredibly wise. They have been gifted with the ability to offer practical, non-biased, and Godly advice to many people, not just myself.
As I've gotten older, I've realized just how wise my parents have truly been about a number of situations.
On college:
"You snooze, you lose. Don't wait until the last minute to do things. One day, you're going to wait to do something, and it will be too late, and you'll be sorry you waited so long. It'll be your loss!"
"College will be a great time in your life...but it shouldn't be the best."
"Ask your professors for help if you don't understand something. That's what they get paid to do - teach!"
"Get a tutor right away if you're struggling with something. Don't wait until it's halfway through the semester and you don't know anything."
"Sometimes, you just have to stay up late and finish the homework. You'll just have to be tired the next day."
"Don't skip class and then ask the professor to be a reference. It's not right."
"Don't go out alone at night on campus. You don't know who could be out there. Go with someone!"
"Be better than average. If you know you can do better, then do better."
"Subjects that are harder require more time and effort. You might have to work a little harder than usual to get that A in the class, and that's okay."
"If you've done the best you can, the grade should reflect that. Don't be upset about having that one B in a class you tried really hard at. Sometimes you may just not get an A."
On relationships:
"Stay away from guys who have anger issues."
"Never settle for less than you deserve. Don't ever feel like you have to have a boyfriend."
"Just be friends first, and see where it goes."
"You need to be compatible. A lot of people think it's all about passionate love, but when it comes down to having a good relationship, it's all about compatibility."
"Forgive and move on. Let it go!"
"If there is a problem with someone, you make the effort to talk to them and straighten things out. If they don't respond, you tried, and now it's up to the other person."
"Always do what you have to do to be at peace."
"You can't always have things your way. Sometimes, it's nice in a friendship to do something that makes the other person happy."
"There are always two sides to every story. It's helpful to be able to see things from other peoples' points of view."
"Sometimes, you need to lower your expectations for people."
"Ask about people and their lives, even though most people just like to talk about themselves, and won't ask you anything."
On life:
"Always take the high road. Don't stoop down to other people's levels."
"Be kind. Look out for the new kid - you never know how one kind word could make someone's day."
"Make your bed each morning. It's a good way to start the day off right."
"Speak up for yourself. Don't let people take advantage of you because you're nice."
"It never hurts to put in a little more effort. Go the extra mile. Do something that will make you stand out."
"We go to church to serve and worship God, not just to get something out of it."
"Worship is a sacrifice of praise. It doesn't matter if you don't like the songs or aren't 'feeling it.' Remember who you're singing to."
"When you walk away from God - that's when your life gets screwed up."
"Positive thinking is so important. You have to train your mind to think differently, to not be negative."
Thank you, mom and dad, for the wonderful pieces of advice and wisdom you've given me growing up.
