5 Powerful Lessons I Have Learned From My Elders | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

5 Powerful Lessons I Have Learned From My Elders

"When old people speak it is not because of the sweetness of words in their mouths; it is because they see something which you do not see." - China Achebe

36
5 Powerful Lessons I Have Learned From My Elders

In This Article:

Someone once told me older people should always be heard.

1. Do not let your dreams die.

As cheesy as it sounds, it is very important to take full advantage of the time you got in your hands because whether we like it or not, our time will come someday. Thus, I urge you to not dwell for too long in your thoughts trying to figure out what to do, otherwise life will pass by right in front your eyes and suddenly you'll realize it will be too late for you to fulfill those dreams. Instead, be a doer and work towards your goal(s). At the end of the day, it is all about passion, patience and persistence.

2. Accept what you have, work for what you want and share what you’ve learned.

I think this one is pretty self explanatory. Cultivate your gifts, don't waste them. Do what you can to impact this world positively and lastly, share them with those who want to learn it. It's pretty self explanatory.

3. Go out of your way to assist others.

We all have busy lives, and we all have days in which we gotta get somewhere in a hurry, or study for a test we got the next day. But even in those days we need to make an effort to be a little selfless. If you just stop and think how bad could it affect you being 5-10 minutes late to class/work, or taking 10 minutes away from your study session to help someone, you'll soon realize it is not that big of a deal. In the long run, using that time to help others will compensate you more than it will hurt you. Who knows, you might make a new friend or you'll simply help yourself build a better character.

4. Treat others with respect no matter the situation.

Here's a quick anecdote someone once told me:

Imagine you were on the highway in a car full of people you love. You're at the wheel and suddenly another car blows right past you and got scared. You look at their car and call whoever was driving all kinds of names. After that scare, you get a bit mad and keep on driving for a couple of minutes until you get pulled over by a cop because you were speeding. The cop comes to you and before he even says a word you say, "why didn't you stop the car that blew right past me earlier? You couldn't have missed it." and then the cop replies "I did, but I let them go because there was a pregnant woman needing urgent medical attention in that car."

What's the morale of the situation of the situation you may ask? Yeap, you guessed it. Don't judge anyone of off first impressions, because there are a million things you don't know about them.

5. Be confident, yet humble.

This one might seem a bit contradictory, because when we think of how most confident people act, we do not always picture them as being the most humble around. What I mean however, is that you should be a person that talks others up and not down. You should give credit to those around you for your achievements without being afraid of losing the spotlight. Do not let anyone talk you down and making you feel inferior. Be sure of who you are and of your capabilities. Be honest with yourself and give yourself some credit for what you have done. Nonetheless, do not ever let your accomplishments get into your head too much. Simply acknowledge the things that ought to be acknowledge and give others their deserved credit.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
friends
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

If I have learned one thing in my lifetime, it is that friends are a privilege. No one is required to give you their company and yet there is some sort of shared connection that keeps you together. And from that friendship, you may even find yourself lucky enough to have a few more friends, thus forming a group. Here are just a few signs that prove your current friend group is the ultimate friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
ross and monica
FanPop

When it comes to television, there’s very few sets of on-screen siblings that a lot of us can relate to. Only those who have grown up with siblings knows what it feels like to fight, prank, and love a sibling. Ross and Monica Geller were definitely overbearing and overshared some things through the series of "Friends," but they captured perfectly what real siblings feel in real life. Some of their antics were funny, some were a little weird but all of them are completely relatable to brothers and sisters everywhere.

Keep Reading...Show less
Sorority Girls
Owl Eyes Magazine

College is a great place to meet people, especially through Greek life. If you look closely at sororities, you'll quickly see there are many different types of girls you will meet.

1. The Legacy.

Her sister was a member, her mom was a member, all of her aunts were members, and her grandma was a member. She has been waiting her whole life to wear these letters and cried hysterically on bid day. Although she can act entitled at times, you can bet she is one of the most enthusiastic sisters.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Reasons Why Life Is Better In The Summertime

Winter blues got you down? Summer is just around the corner!

627
coconut tree near shore within mountain range
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

Every kid in college and/or high school dreams of summer the moment they walk through the door on the first day back in September. It becomes harder and harder to focus in classes and while doing assignments as the days get closer. The winter has been lagging, the days are short and dark, and no one is quite themselves due to lack of energy and sunlight. Let's face it: life is ten times better in the summertime.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Things That Describe You and Your College Friends

The craziest, funniest, and most unforgettable college memories are impossible to create without an amazing group of friends.

390
College Friends
Marina Lombardi

1. You'll never run out of clothes when you have at least four closets to choose from.

2. You embrace and encourage each other’s horrible, yet remarkable dance moves.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments