The Best Advice That My Parents Gave Me

I think that it's really important to have strong, close relationships with your parents. Growing up, I always felt that I could come to my parents with anything. I knew that they wouldn't judge me and they'd do the best that they could to help me out. I told my parents everything and to this day, I still do.

Even though I'm 21 years old, married and living 1,400 miles away, sometimes I still need my parents. No matter how old I get, I realize that I'll probably always need them or at least want their advice. I don't claim to know everything and I never have. And since I'm living on my own for the first time, I definitely have a lot to learn. Every day that passes by, I'm learning more and more about how to be self-sufficient and an adult.

But every once in a while, I pick up my cell phone and dial my parents' phone numbers. I call them every time that I need advice. I trust their advice more than anything. It's one of the few things that I consider a sure thing in this world. My parents have always and will always look out for me better than anyone else.

I've been going through a lot of emotional problems lately, as well as other day-to-day problems. So I've spent a lot of time asking them about their experiences with similar problems and what they think that I should do. I don't call them every time that I have a little problem. But I do call them when I have a big problem and I need someone to be brutally honest with me. I appreciate their honesty more than I'll ever be able to explain. They truly are my best friends.

So while I was thinking about some advice that my dad gave me recently, I started to think about all of the good advice that my parents have given me over the years and compiled a list of what has helped me the most.

• Pick your battles- When I was younger, I was the type of person that argued over every little thing and held grudges over trivial things. I lost a lot of friends along the way. My parents explained that everyone is human and nobody is perfect. People make mistakes and people fight. But not every battle needs to be fought. Sometimes the best thing to do is let the little things go. Since then, I've avoided many arguments and I've created lasting friendships. I realized that I was being too harsh and that creating extra conflict in life isn't always worth it. 

• You play like you practice- Growing up, I played a lot of recreational sports and there were some practices that I didn't give my all. I figured that because it was practice, I didn't have to play as hard as I would during a game. But my dad told me that if you play sloppy during practice, you'll play sloppy during your games because you'll be used to doing it. The same principle applies to everyday life. If you don't work hard every day at everything that you do you won't get any better. Do everything in life with heart and determination and you'll reap the benefits of your hard work.  

• Never be afraid to ask for help- This is something that I've always struggled with. I'm the type of person that is normally too proud to admit that they need any sort of help. I'd rather just get the job done myself no matter how hard it is. But there comes a time in life where you have to swallow your pride and admit that you can't do it all. Ever since I've accepted that, it's made my life so much easier. We're not supposed to be able to do everything. We're only human. Our friends and family members are there to help us. So we don't need to feel like everything is up to us. Sometimes asking for help is the best thing that we can do for ourselves.

Of course there are tons of other pieces of advice that I could transcribe here but these are just my favorites. Not a day goes by that I don't feel blessed to have been given the greatest parents that I could've ever asked for. So thanks Mom and Dad. I wouldn't be where I am in life without you. 

I love you guys, 

Chelsea