The Greatest Lessons I've Learned | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

The Greatest Lessons I've Learned

I'd like to thank Mom, Dad, and T.Swizzle.

58
The Greatest Lessons I've Learned
http://yale1959.org/

Whenever I get asked what the greatest life lesson I’ve learned is, I’m always stuck choosing. Although I clearly haven’t lived my full life yet, I’ve learned lessons that will last forever. These lessons were taught to me by parents, family, teachers, cheesy teenage songs, and real-life experiences. To whoever is reading this, I hope they’ll benefit you just as much as they’ve benefitted me.

Eat what you want.

This is a silly one, but we’ve all been in that moment where we contemplate eating something (usually unhealthy). "You won't have that fast metabolism forever!" Thanks, Mom. Eat what you want and enjoy the hell out of it. That one piece of pizza won’t kill you! (A second, third, maybe fourth piece is OK, too).

Everything happens for a reason.

Cliché, but true. Some of the biggest events in my life happened for a reason. I’ve learned to go with the flow and let things fall into place when they happen. God has plans for you.

Separate your laundry.

Seriously, guys. Don't turn your laundry into one big bowl of soup. Thanks to my Stepmom, I learned separating your clothes between whites and colors will save your life. (Do it.)

Blood is thicker than water.

My dad still tells me this. At the end of the day, your family members are the only ones who will be there for you. They’ll support you endlessly and love you unconditionally no matter what. As you get older, you realize how much you love, care and need them. There’s nothing like a strong family bond.

Time can heal almost anything.

You would never expect a cheesy Taylor Swift lyric from that song you listened to repeatedly in middle school to stick with you forever. From heartbreaks to tragic experiences, I’ve learned that giving yourself time will ultimately be the key to healing. Giving things time allows you to relax, breathe and think about what went wrong. Once you’ve taken the time to accept it, you can finally move on.

Two real friends are better than 20 fake ones.

My mother always told me that it was OK if I could count the amount of friends I had on one hand. I used to stress over this, but growing older shows you that finding millions of real friends is impossible. It's inevitable to find more than a few loyal friends. Be grateful for the three best friends you have had for years, because those are the ones who will stick with you.

Don't worry about anyone else but yourself.

The old “if they jumped off a bridge, would you?” line will haunt us forever. I have learned not to obsess over what other people are doing. All that will do is stress you out, make you jealous, and delay your own success. Worry about yourself. It's OK to be selfish from time to time.

You will definitely learn from your mistakes.

When I was younger, I stuck pennies in electrical sockets. I never understood why my parents would scream at me until one day I electrocuted the hell out of myself. We have all had a moment like this (but maybe not with pennies in sockets). Learning from your own mistakes is the #1 lesson I’ve learned that has helped shape me into the person I am today. Making mistakes are just lessons for growth. Once you make them, you’ll never make that mistake again. Life doesn't come with a delete button.

Treat yo'self, girl.

Make time for yourself! Buy yourself those new shoes you wanted, or even take yourself out on a date. Treating yourself and having "me time" is something we all need once in a while. Take care of your body and your mind. You'll be surprised how great you feel!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas Socks  Fireplace
Wesley Tingey

Christmas is arguably one of the most popular holidays of the year. Whether you think Christmas celebrations should be strictly reserved for December, or you're setting up your tree and lights on November 1st, Christmas time is the best time. Filling an entire month with Christmas activities seems like it could be impossible, but I am here to fix that for you. Here are twenty-five of the best things to do in the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas.

Keep Reading...Show less
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

557
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments