Reliable Parental Advice For Adult Life

by Rachel Jimenez · January 19, 2015

Sometimes we just need to listen to our parents.

We’ve all made note of the ridiculous tidbits of advice that our parents used to give us when we were younger. We’d be reminded of little things at the dinner table, “embarrassed” in front of our friends, and scolded after we broke one of these rules. We were little shits that didn’t think our parents knew anything that could be of use to us in the long run (except me, “hi, mom and dad”). But over the years, as I’ve grown up away from my parental guidance and our fully-stocked fridge, I’ve come to recall a couple bits of wisdom that many parents shared with us as kids that most tended to take for granted, and realized that they are ridiculously applicable to our adult lives and can aid in success, no matter what field of work or stage of life we’re in.

“Be On Your Best Behavior”

As kids, this meant to not push people down or to say mean things. To always raise your hand before speaking, and to always say “please.” If you did these little things, you could potentially make friends or get a gold star at the end of your class.

Now as an adult, conduct is not only important for making friends, it’s important for building a reputation for yourself. The way that you carry yourself in the world and how you interact with others is EVERYTHING. You never know who you’re going to meet, and you never know who those people know. We hear people talk about “bitch faces” and “bad attitudes” all the time when it comes to discussing first impressions and initial encounters, and while that’s common and slightly out of our control, being mindful of how you behave in any given situation can impact your future.

While unlikely, you never know if that person ahead of you in line could be your potential boss, your future husband, or your long-lost best friend. So literally “turning that frown upside down” could be the factor in being “that person with a nasty personality” or a potential connection. Always be professional, and always be kind.

“Eat Your Vegetables”

Sitting at the dinner table every Thursday night became a tradition you learned to dread because you KNEW that your parent’s were going to force you to eat the peas and broccoli. You also knew that you’d lose to any argument against it, and that you’d also lose your chance at a bowl of ice cream if you continued to boycott the steamed carrots. But, growing up in a society that is literally growing in size and weight, it has become so important for us to start becoming more mindful of what we put on our plate.

In case you didn’t pick up on this as a child, vegetables (and any healthy grain or lean protein for that matter), are good for you. These healthier side dishes provide you with necessary vitamins and minerals while still remaining relatively low in calories and high in fiber. In general, making healthy foods a priority in our diets is important because they both improve our quality of life as well as prevent us from developing diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease.

“Make Sure That You Share”

This may be one of the toughest, but most important bits of advice we could pick up as children. At first, we were only instructed to share our toys and other tangible belongings we had because it was the “right thing to do.” As an adult, I’ve come to realize that sharing not only resembles kindness, but sharing knowledge, adding to conversation, and becoming intimate with someone is necessary for personal growth. If we keep ourselves confined in our own little bubble, we cannot make new friends, find new interests, or mature in any way.

I previously discussed the importance of being vulnerable in my latest article, and I feel that being able to be vulnerable requires you to share a bit of yourself with someone else to benefit him or her as well as yourself. Even if it is not reciprocated, you can learn to grow from rejection. When you let go of something you hold on to so dearly, you can still manage to live on without it. As a child, sharing your favorite toy seemed like you were giving up your right arm, but the lesson was to see how sending happiness to someone could bring you joy as well. It creates growth.