I was not planning on writing a separate post from the Gratitude one I had plan. As I was writing, I found I just had too much to say in one singular post. The World’s Greatest Man is my grandfather, of course. Here are the top things I’ve learned from one of the most spectacular people on this planet:
Just because you want it doesn’t mean you deserve to have it handed to you. You have to work for awards. Trophies aren’t handouts. If you work hard enough, and keep working even when you fail, you’ll get there.
You’re also not entitled to other people’s business. People will tell you what they want to tell you. Stop prying. They do not owe you their thoughts and their hardships.
It’s called failing upwards. Don’t take your bad days out on strangers. Instead, turn it into a learning experience. If it’s something that keeps happening, then change it. If you don’t want to change it, learn to live with it.
It’s something we all have in common: death. It doesn’t make it any easier when it does come around, but it will eventually. So, cherish your moments with your loved ones today because you can’t go backwards in time. Focus on collecting fond memories.
Don’t help others because they’re a good person. Do it because you are. Always give people the benefit of the doubt the first time around. When you first meet someone, assume the best and that they mean well. Prematurely judging people only leads to resentment and a bad reflection on you.
There are going to be times where you’re going to want to blow up and scream. Don’t cave. Be kind to those who can’t help themselves, like animals, even when they push your buttons. Answer frustrating behavior with love and understanding. Take it as a moment to teach about the world and yourself rather than using it to “correct” and punish. If you can’t get into that mindset right away, go for a walk and then come back to the situation.
If you’re in school, focus on what you’re learning, not your grades. Nobody is going to care if you had a 4.0 GPA if you don’t understand basic literary, historical and political references. If you’re not in school, keep reading. Read more than just online articles and blog posts. Read books. Read a lot of books. Read all the time. Pay attention to the newspapers. Pay attention to world events. Knowledge is power.
Even though your mind is strong, don’t let it overpower you. Don’t give credibility to doubts and fears because they’ll stop you from doing great things. Don’t give into the belief that you don’t have an impact on this world. Learn when to control your emotions.
People who don’t value you as a person don’t deserve your time. People who think they own some part of you because of the “things” they’ve done for you don’t deserve your time. People who are only your friend when they’re in deep waters don’t deserve your time. People who are sometimes nice, but sometimes a nightmare, don’t deserve your time. People who walk out of your life, even briefly, and then want back in once you’ve cleaned up the damage don’t deserve your time. It doesn’t matter if these people are friends, significant others, or family. You don’t need to be spending your energy on that kind of person.
College doesn’t make you intelligent. Having 3 PhD’s doesn’t make you intelligent. In fact, some of the most educated people I know are blithering idiots in real life. Don’t keep getting degrees because everyone has you convinced it’s what you need to get a job now. Get one degree and go get your job. As you go up and discover that you may need further education, then get the degree. Just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you’ll land a high-paying job right away (see #1).
A degree doesn’t teach you how to be a good parent. A degree doesn’t teach you how to make smart personal financial decisions (unless you actually paid attention to that chapter in accounting). A degree doesn’t teach you deductive reasoning or common sense. That’s on you to pay attention and develop that.
Though you are irreplaceable, you are not the best. Watch your pride and be sure it doesn’t escape from your grasp. That includes in your work life and personal life. You are never too smart to keep learning. You are never too knowledgeable to ask for help. You are never so advanced that you can’t take new advice. You are not better than this person or that group. Check yourself.
Claiming you’re a Christian because you go to church once a week is like claiming you’re a car because you stand in your garage for an hour every Sunday. Stop preaching to everyone about how they should be living their lives and go live it yourself. In the Catholic faith, evangelization is a popular topic. You know what’s not? Catholic Social Teaching. WHY? Yes, Christ said to go out and tell the world. You know what else he’s said? To help others. To be Christ to others. I don’t find it helpful nor Christlike to stand around gossiping about Susie Whats-her-face and her poor parenting techniques for 30 minutes after you say “Amen”.
Make it your goal for people to know your faith by the way you act, not the words you say. Words are nothing unless you have something to back them up. Even then, if you’re talking more than you’re acting, see #9 again.
