Native American Proverbs To Live By | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Native American Proverbs To Live By

How an MTV show gave me a new perspective.

399
Native American Proverbs To Live By
Ron Nichols

While I was recently binge watching "Faking It," (seriously, watch it -- it's amazing) one of the characters was giving some advice to another via a Native American proverb. It went, "Everyone has two wolves inside them. One is good, the other is evil. The one that survives is the one you choose to feed." I was so taken aback by how powerful and true this was.

It was nice to take a moment to learn something about a culture that is so underrepresented today. Naturally, I jumped on my computer to look up more, and I'm going to share some of my favorites with you. Whether they're something you choose to live by from here on out, or just use them as something you're going to caption an Instagram picture with between Taylor Swift quotes, really let them sink in, and don't forget that other cultures have so much to offer.

1. "Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." - Hopi

People tend to bottle things up. One day, you'll reach your breaking point, and it will be too late. So this is right; don't be afraid to cry. Surround yourself with people that will comfort you, and know they won't care if they see mascara running down your face because you're crying so hard. And when you're done, take that huge breath of relief that we all get after we finally let it out, because you know the worst is over.

2. "If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come." - Arapaho

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions, trying new things, and acting on our curiosity is the only way that we'll ever learn anything. You're not wrong about something you don't know, but you have every opportunity to learn about it -- the problem comes only in choosing not to.

3. "You already possess everything necessary to become great." - Crow

You were given the most precious gift ever -- life. It's what you choose to do with that gift that determines how great it will actually be. Strive to be your own definition of great. Whether that's staying at home to be with family or working hard, your life won't be great until you're genuinely happy.

4. "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep." - Navajo

To me, this means that you can't force someone to do something that they don't want to do. If someone is pretending to be asleep, no splash of water nor slap in their face is going to wake them, because they don't want that. We can't change other people. We can only work to better ourselves, and hope that one day, they'll finally open their eyes.

And to lighten this deep mood:

5. "Many have fallen with the bottle in their hand." - Lakota

I'm talking to you, college students.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

1106
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4383
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2692
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

202074
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments