I am thankful that my parents weren’t spoiling me when I was a kid. I didn’t get everything I wanted. They didn’t buy me every toy I was crying for.
When I was in high school and I wanted them to buy me outfits so that I can flaunt with my girlfriends every weekend and give me money for traveling… they said ‘no.’ They said that I can buy myself all the shoes and dresses I want and travel whenever I want if I make my own money.
During that time, I was furious. I was so angry at them for making me work and study at the same time at the cost of having no social life. I felt it was not fair for making me work part-time while all my friends were going out and partying.
Now, I am 26 years old and I work full time and preparing my master thesis at the same time. It is not hard because I’ve been accustomed to it thanks to my parents. I have paid for my college degree myself and I am proud of me.
I am thankful for my parents for teaching me to work for the things I want. Because of them I never take anything for granted. I learned how to value people and things. I also learned that the feeling of buying something is so much better when you buy the thing with your own earned money.
I am thankful for my parents because they taught me to show up, take chances, and work. I learned how to be independent. I learned how to respect myself more and become strong and self-confident as I aspired to be.
My parents didn’t spoil me with money. They spoiled me with their firm decision to let me experience struggle on my own skin to learn how to live my life the right way. But they have also been there for me to help me if I needed them. They have thought me the meaning of holding yourself accountable for your actions and having a strict work ethic – things that many people lack nowadays.
Finally, I thank my parents for showing me that I don’t need to depend on people to do things for me because I can do anything myself.
I thank them for not giving me everything I wanted, but everything I needed.
