10 Values we learned as a child

that make sense as we became

adult

1. Stand up for what you believe in & be true to yourself

I think one of the most important things I learned from my parents is the
importance of standing up for what you believe in, even if no one is
standing beside you. Never give up your morals and ethics. Fight for
what you know is right, even if you’re the only one fighting. Always be
true to yourself, even if no one else agrees with you. It’s better to stand
alone than to surround yourself with fake friends, anyway.

“Always stand up for what you believe in, even if it means

standing alone.” - Kim Hanks

2. Help others as much as you can

One of the greatest things that my parents taught me is the value of

generosity. I learned that if you can help others, you SHOULD help
them. I also learned that we all have something to give to those in
need, even if we’re in need ourselves. Being generous isn’t just about
giving people money. A helping hand can come in the form of your time,
energy, or even just a compassionate shoulder for a friend to lean on.

“I learned to give not because I have much, but because I know

exactly how it feels to have nothing” - Anonymous

3. Be grateful and appreciative

My parents taught me to appreciate and be grateful for what we had,

even if it wasn’t always what I wanted. As the quote below says, I ate
what they fed me and wore what they could afford, and I was grateful
for it. Maybe I didn’t always have the latest fashion trends or the hottest
shoes, and maybe I didn’t always get to eat exactly what I wanted every
night, but I always had clothes on my back and food on the table.
That said, I feel like the quote below needs a bit of a disclaimer (and it’s
a good example of how the things we learned as kids shaped our
parenting values by teaching us what NOT to do). I do not believe in the
whole “eat what I give you or starve” archaic parenting rule. We know
so much more about food aversion and the harmful effects of force-
feeding kids today than our parents knew back then. We can teach kids
to be grateful for the food that they have on their plates without forcing
them to eat things that make them gag.

“I grew up eating what I found on my plate and wearing what my

mom could afford. That’s how I learned to be grateful and
appreciative.” - Anonymous

4. Better days are always around the corner

We all had good days and bad days growing up. My parents taught me
that even on the worst days, better times are ahead. Our rainy days
(metaphorically speaking) may be dark, cold, and bleak, but if we can
just hold on, summer will soon come.

“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember that trees lose
their leaves every year and still they stand tall and wait for better
days to come.” - Anonymous

5. Adversity doesn’t break us

Speaking of rough times, I learned from my parents that adversity

doesn’t have to break us. I’m not saying that having bad things happen
to you is actually a good thing, or a “blessing in disguise” or anything
quite so trite, so don’t get me wrong. I’m saying don’t let that adversity
define you. Try to focus on the lesson, not the pain.  Don’t ever let
that darkness keep you from finding beauty in the world.

“Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great

deal of darkness yet still become something beautiful.” – Beau
Taplin
6. True beauty comes from within

One of the most important values I learned from my parents is that true
beauty comes from within. Great hair, good skin, the perfect waistline-
none of these things make someone beautiful.  Being kind and
compassionate, helping others without expectations…that’s what
makes you a beautiful person. You can hide your dark circles, and dye
your hair if you really want to. However, no amount of makeup can hide
an ugly heart

“True beauty radiates not from outer cosmetics, but from the
simple joy of making a difference for those that need your voice,
passion, and time without expecting or wanting anything in
return…” ― Deborah Barnes

7. When you know better, do better

My parents were far from perfect, but they did the best they
could with the knowledge that they had. Our parent’s generation did
things based on what they thought was right at the time. Take the whole
“eat what I feed you or starve” thing that I mentioned above. In their
mind, that was the right thing to do. As parents ourselves now, we know
that they got some of it wrong. We also know better, so we do better
with our own kids.

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do
better.” – Anonymous

8. You can’t please everyone, so stop trying

If you spend your life trying to make everyone around you happy all of
the time, you’re not really living your own life…you’re living everyone
else’s. YOUR life begins when you stop trying to please everyone else
and start following your own passions. The great thing about this
lesson? It’s never too late to learn!
"Some say life begins at 40, others at 50…All nonsense! Life
begins when we decide to stop pleasing the audience.”

9. Find someone who believes in you

My parents taught me the value of having someone in your corner.

Someone who pushes you to do better and be better, who holds you
accountable to yourself, who lifts you up when you’re down. Whether
it’s your mom, dad, sibling, spouse, or a friend, find at least ONE
person that makes you a better person.

“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me

and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” ― Abraham Lincoln

10. Dance, love, sing and LIVE!

I think one of the most important things I learned from my parents is

that we only get ONE life to live on this planet, and tomorrow is never
promised. Don’t spend it hiding in the shadows and doing things that
make you miserable. Follow your dreams. Dance like no one is
watching. Love deeply, down to your toes. Sing at the top of your lungs,
even if you can’t carry a tune. Just LIVE!

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,

Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
- Anonymous

Conclusion:
Whether it’s our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or even foster
parents, our childhood caregivers taught us countless important life
lessons that shaped the values that we hold dear today. Sometimes,
those lessons made us realize exactly what kind of person we wanted
to be when we grew up. Other times, they taught us what we DIDN’T
want to be. But one way or another, we owe much of who we are today
to the people that raised us. I, for one, am very grateful to my parents
for giving me so many amazing values.