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.
Lifestyle

The Perks of Being a Girl

“I just want you to know that you’re very special… and the only reason I’m telling you is that I don’t know if anyone else ever has.”

298
girl

As frustrating and annoying as it can be, being a girl is really awesome. We are beautiful inside and out. Not a lot of people may see that, but girls have a ton of amazing qualities.

We have unique flirting skills.

Us girls have a significant way to flirt with other people. Even when we say the most random or awkward things, we have a way of making everything sound cute and planned. It’s just a gift; we’re good like that.

Keep Reading...Show less
gossip girl

Us college students know all about the struggle of spending the day in the library. Whether you are writing a ten-page paper, studying for a biology exam, or struggling through math homework, you somehow find the strength to get to the library to get it all done. Let's just say you have a lot of different thoughts that run through your head during the many hours you spend in the lovely library.

Keep Reading...Show less
female tv characters
We Heart It

Over the past decade, television has undergone a very crucial transition: the incorporation of female lead characters. Since it's a known fact that girls actually do run the world (Beyonce said so herself), it's time for the leading ladies of the small screen to get some credit. Without these characters, women would still be sitting in the background of our favorite shows. These women are not only trailblazers for female empowerment, but role models for women worldwide. With that, here are 15 of the smartest, sassiest ladies gracing our screens that remind us that women do, indeed, rule:

Keep Reading...Show less
New Now Next
New Now Next

If you are like me, you have an interesting personality. Basically, you love to be sassy and snarky, gossip, and act like a total bitch (not really), but deep down, you are actually a very genuinely nice person. The idea of actually hurting someone truly makes you feel bad, and you probably have never actually hurt someone’s feelings because your kindness always shines through, even if you do not want it to. Not sure exactly what I would call this type of personality, but if you identify with it, here are some feelings you can undoubtedly relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf
Cub Magazine

We all have a little bit of Blair Waldorf inside of us. You may not realize it, but you're probably guilty of at least nine out of ten of these listed points. So why don't we reminisce on the famous Blair Waldorf moments where we realized we were actually her at certain times through the series?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments