A little background. To say that I am white, privileged, and have lived in the healthy upper-class for the entirety of my life is as true as true can be. I do not know the struggles of hunger, damp, cold conditions, or empty pockets. For all of these things, I am infinitely grateful. So, why am I complaining?
As I have worked my way through the first few years of my college education and have secured a number of positions in the workforce, the huffing-and-puffing, the sighing-and-crying, well…it all comes a little too naturally. It seems, no matter what position I'm in, that I am ALWAYS doing the majority of the work. I go the extra mile. I reach for the stars, yadah, yadah, yadah. And most of the time I think it goes unnoticed!
Here are three things I picked up from my parents that have made both work and school more exhausting than it should be.
1. Clean means not a hair is to be found.
Without exaggeration, I can say that Legos reeked of Lysol wipes, dishes were practically bleached before the dishwasher was even opened, and vacuuming was never a quick chore for some extra cash. Heck! You also had to hand wash the exterior and interior of the vacuum after each job, no matter how small! As I have grown up, my mother has opened up and shared with me her struggles. She used to have to remind herself: Let them be kids. A mess won't kill you. Germs can be good for the immune system. She thought about how much more quality time could have been had without the wiping and spritzing. My house, just like my apartment today, is beyond clean. Some even say it doesn't look like someone lives here!
2. Your organization style can be perfect too.
Color-coded, size oriented, height distributed. Whatever it was, it was done. There's a reason why my shoes line up by type, color, and size and why my clothes are organized by sleeve length, color, and size. Just like the cleaning, there was a certain way to organize. Stuffed animals went back a certain way; pillows lay at a particular angle, even the pieces to a board game were Ziploc'ed and tightly secured. These organization methods have held up in my life today – binders, tabs, labels. You name it. I've got it! Sometimes it ends up at the point of laughable. And, yes, I have been poked fun at for it.
3. There is always more to be done.
This is something we all think, but how many of us act upon it? I can say with my hand raised high that everything must be done, accomplished, finished. Whether it takes multiple lists, sticky notes, reminders, you name it, anything that you could think of has to be done. Just imagine how hard it is to sleep with this drilled into your mind! While this was yet another thing my parents didn't tell me or repeat one thousand times, it's something I saw them do. Heck, my mom can't even get a good night's sleep until everything on that list is finished. And for my dad, he'll stay at his office until midnight. Even if it means lacking sleep, he'll know that his day's work is done.
While it is difficult to hold back the day-to-day frustrations, it is crucial that I remember gratitude. There is so much to be thankful for. I will even admit that I am happy and proud of these things that my parents have taught me. My qualities and work ethic set me apart from the rest. And, ultimately, I couldn't imagine myself being any other way.
I genuinely do hope that one day, all that my parents have instilled in me will rub off on someone, for the better.
