9 Lessons Only Your Family Can Teach You

BY GIGI ENGLE
JULY 18, 2016

Family, am I right?
Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em. But instead of ragging on the clan, let's focus on the positive here. Your family has shaped you into the ridiculous,
neurotic and totally awesome person you are today. Even when their embarrassing stories and drama make you want to run away and adopt a new identity,
they still come first. They are the first people you're exposed to as a bitty little thing, and they are the first ones to pass on their life lessons — no matter how
good, bad or difficult those lessons might be. Your family teaches you a lot about yourself through their wild antics, and you've got to love them for it. Sure, they
are completely crazy, but it's the fun kind of crazy! And even if they show love in insane ways, it's still love. AND WE ALL NEED LOVE. Whether they bring up the
fact that you wet the bed until you were 12 in front of that girl you like, or put plastic wrap over the toilet seat to sabotage you, they love you in their own, um,
unique way. The relationship you have with your family runs deep, kind of like all of the insecurities that you can also attribute to them! (Just kidding. Sort of.) No
matter how many times they mess with you, your connection is blood and that counts for something (most of the time).

So let's raise a glass and toast our families. We owe them one (or 20). Here are nine lessons only your family can teach you.

1. They teach you how to be strong, because otherwise you'd probably die.
Your family loves you, but your mom, dad, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins are not always easy to handle. They teach you how to stand up for yourself — by
making you stand up for yourself.
In any family, you get pushed around. If you don't hold your own, you'll get stepped on. Your family forces you to challenge not only others, but also
yourself. Tough love is better than no life, right?

2. They teach you how to learn by (their sometimes horrible) example.

Your family shows you that the people we love mess up. It's inevitable. We all screw up on the reg. It's by watching the people we love make mistakes that we
learn how not to make those same errors in our own lives. Do as they say and not as they do, ya know?
Remember: Bringing open containers onto the train is illegal, okay?
It's those same family members, on the other hand, who also set a good example. Families teach you by doing, and it's up to you to draw lessons from their
experiences.

3. They teach you about unconditional love because who else would love these weirdos?
When it comes to family, you'll always love them no matter what happens. Some pretty crazy things can go down between you and a family member, but you'll
always get through it. The family drama is SO real. We have all been there.
And it's because of these crazy people that you truly learn that unconditional love really does mean unconditional. You might be the only one who will ever love
your cousin who obsessively collects rocks, but it's his thing and more power to him!
No matter what happens, no matter how many times you put gum in your sister's hair or sneak out and give your mom a heart attack, your bond is
unbreakable...because trust me, we've all tried and failed to break it, AM I RIGHT?!

4. They teach you who you are and how to own it.
At the root of all the silliness is love. You're a weirdo, but being a weirdo is FIERCE. Your family will have your back, and that makes being who you are — and
embracing every part of your personality — that much easier.
PREPARED BY: MARY R. GAMBOA
A clan of weirdos is a strong clan, for sure.

5. They teach you how to seriously kick ass.

Nobody knows how to kick your ass like your older sibling, but nobody will be there to help you kick someone's ass like that same sibling.
Since you're used to being the punchline for their jokes and their literal punching bag, you can hold your own — no matter what the world brings.
Plus, with your family there, you always have backup when times get rough.

6. They teach you how to be a good friend.

Your siblings and cousins were your first friends, and those relationships shape all the relationships you'll forge in your life. Unfortunately, no one will ever be
as fire as one of your sibs, but hey, the world can try.
You learn about trust, responsibility and some seriously vicious sarcasm.
They teach you how to build and not completely mess up your life by being a terrible person. Most important, they teach you how to forgive, and how to move
on from hurt. (Even though WE KNOW you're not hurt, okay?)

7. They teach you serious, serious, SERIOUS patience.

Your family can (and probably will, TBH) drive you completely insane.
From eating the last popsicle — that was SERIOUSLY rude, Dennis — to embarrassing you in front of your friends, they will put your patience to the test. But you
start to develop very strong people skills after dealing with such a rowdy band of individuals. Nothing will make you calmer than a life of dealing with the human
beings you're related to.
Going to your first job with a horrible boss will be a cakewalk in comparison to that time your mom grounded you for most of high school for stealing her car.
For the rest of your life, you will be cool, calm and collected, no matter the situation.

8. They teach you what's actually important in life.

All of your family members would save your butt if you needed them to.
At the end of the day, your family is the most important thing you have, so it's natural that they teach you what is — as well as what isn't — valuable. There is
no time for haters when you're trying to kick ass in the world.
The older you get, the more you value them for what they bring to your life. You feel grateful for their overzealous interest in your life, and for the strength they
give you when you basically ruin your own life.
People may come and go, but family is forever. (Just like that ill-advised tattoo you got of an anchor that says "MOM.")

9. They teach you how to be a team player (even when you didn't want to be on this team).
Your family will undoubtedly teach you how to share. (Mostly because your parents always thought your belongings were communal. But, no, there is no
bitterness here...haha...) RIP, Barbie car, seriously.
You're never a solo act when you have older siblings and cousins to keep you in line. And you'll benefit down the road from learning how to delegate and wait
your turn.
As you get older and find yourself in stressful situations in college or at work, you'll realize how equipped you are to deal with conflict and to be a team player,
all because your family taught you from a young age that the world doesn't revolve around you...even though it should, IMHO

PREPARED BY: MARY R. GAMBOA

 10 IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS WE ARE OFTEN TAUGHT TOO LATE

Lynn Adamsen
July 6, 2018

Life is a continuous learning experience. Throughout our lives we keep rising and falling, picking up important lessons along the way. Some of these
lessons come from experience, yet there are others that we learn watching others or reading in books for example. No matter how much we learn
from the books there is a significant difference between practical and theoretical experience. Furthermore, there are many life lessons that we
simply cannot learn until we face certain situations in our life. Most people would say that there are some lessons that come too late, catching us
off-guard and unprepared.
The following list unveils some of the most important lessons in life that people learn the hard way.
1. Walk your own path
People like to judge other people. This peer pressure can make you stray from the path you started to carve for your future. Don’t mind other
people’s aspirations, don’t ever let someone else’s goals and dreams influence your vision of life. It’s your path and you decide where it takes you
and how long it takes you to see it through.
2. Don’t hesitate when you should act
There is an old Roman proverb that people often quote – “Carpe diem” – meaning “Seize the day”. More often than not, we fail to act due to lack
of confidence or courage. This hesitation keeps us from moving forward and puts us in a cage of wondering what might have been. Whenever you
feel it’s time to act, take action. No matter the outcome, you will end up smarter than before.
3. Experience what you have learned
No matter how much we think we know about some topic, it’s only after we have put that knowledge into use that we get confirmation of the
actual level of understanding that we possess. Sure, we could read about painting, learn all the techniques and brush types, colour palettes, etc.
but only when we get in front of a canvas and start painting we put our knowledge to the test.
As EduGeeksClub’s career expert, Julia Smith once wrote: “Young people often face difficulties when it comes to putting what they have learned
into practice; therefore all this knowledge becomes useless when it should be the fuel that propels their careers”.
4. Good things don’t come easy
If you want to have a good life with a successful career, emotional satisfaction, and trustworthy friends you have to work hard. Luck can take you
only so far and the rest is entirely up to you, the amount of effort you put in every day, and the ability to learn from your mistakes. Don’t think for
a moment that someone else is going to fight your battles with the same vigor and devotion as you would.
5. Never fail to try more

PREPARED BY: MARY R. GAMBOA

Even when we’re feeling most prepared there is a chance we fail in accomplishing our goal. An athlete could lead the entire race only to fall just in
front of the finish line and lose. This doesn’t mean the athlete should stop competing; on the contrary, he would work even harder for the next
competition. The results will come, eventually.
6. Take care of your health early
When we’re young we can push our body to its limits day after day. It seems as nothing can touch us and we are invincible. However, as we grow
older all the parties, drinking, smoking, and eating fast food take a toll on our health. Start developing healthy habits while you’re still young and
healthy. Take regular checkups with your doctor and dentist in order to prevent future problems.
7. Make every moment count
Life goes by faster than we think. When you’re in your twenties you think you’ll stay there forever but before you know it you are in your thirties
and it’s too late for the things you wanted to do as a young person. Live your life to its full extent because life is short and we never know what
tomorrow brings.
8. Live and let live
We often try to help people when we see they’re making a mistake. This type of behavior can lead us into all kinds of troubles and
misunderstandings. Don’t force your ideas onto others, let those who want your help and guidance seek you out. Sometimes it’s best to stay away
and let them come to you or you might seem intrusive to others.
9. Be flexible with your goals
Sometimes we feel it’s the right time to take action and put our plans in motion only to realize that we were wrong. It’s important to analyze our
current position and how our activities could influence our future. Sometimes it’s better to postpone a certain goal or even change it for the time
being. Accepting a promotion in a bad time could get us in more trouble than good if the time is not right.
10. For every action, there’s an equal opposite reaction
Before you say something or act in a certain way, think about the consequences. A person could be unprepared to hear some truth or won’t respond
well to our gesture, no matter how good our intentions are. Treat each word with caution.
Take these pieces of advice as guidance, not as a rule. Your life is your own and you know what’s best for you. However, keep in mind that morning
is wiser than the evening. Enjoy life!

PREPARED BY: MARY R. GAMBOA