My dad was always one for great advice. He was not only a role-model to me, but he was a sort of therapist as well. Now that he’s gone, I value his many lessons more than ever. Below are four pieces of advice my dad taught me throughout the years that I will continue to remind myself of. Remembering his words is just one way to keep him close to me and to keep his loving spirit alive.
1. Never let anyone make you feel bad for being a good person.
In a world where cruelty is everywhere in the media and where being mean is considered “cool,” it’s hard to be kind and confident. In high school, I was chastised by peers for always sticking up for others. People assumed I was being a goodie-two-shoes or was being fake when, in actuality, I was just trying to do what was right. My dad was always sure to remind me that being good was not something to be ashamed of. The world needs people who promote kindness and, while it may be criticized, especially when going through teenage years, it truly can make all the difference.
2. Everyone is crazy.
It’s easy to think that you’re the only person who is a little off mentally. Luckily, it is becoming more socially acceptable to express your quirks or even your mental illnesses, but people are still weary to truly open up that part of them. At 9 years old, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and have been battling it ever since. There were many times when I thought I was utterly insane. Most of those times were after I spent 10 minutes washing my hands or after shaking my feet before getting into bed. I distinctly remember my dad sitting at the edge of my bed making sure I understood that everyone is a little off. Some people are more so than others and some hide it, but really no one has it all together.
3. Always believe you can do anything you want to.
As cliché as it sounds, I think believing you can do anything you put your mind to is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. After all, if you have nothing to aim for or dream about, what’s the point of getting out of bed in the morning? My dad used to tell me about his dream of working on cars and possibly owning his own garage. Then he would tell me about how his dad told him that wasn’t realistic and there was no way he would be successful in that so he let go of that dream. While my dad enjoyed his work, he always wondered about his childhood dream. With that being said, I know some dreams can’t possibly come true. I can’t hold a note for anything so I’m pretty sure being a popstar is not in my future. But my passions for writing and helping others are talents I can bring to life. People deserve the right to go after their dreams no matter how far-fetched they may seem.
4. Look for the good in everyone.
Some may think it’s naïve to believe that most people are good people. But through my 23 years, I have come across an overwhelming amount of kind people. Even those who do bad things have good in them. My dad worked at a federal prison where he taught female prisoners tasks they could use after they are released. He told stories of so many women who simply went through a hard time in their lives or women who got attached to the wrong people. He was not telling me that these women didn’t commit bad acts but rather that people can make mistakes and still be good people.
