Fish Can't Climb Trees

Day 132: It's Not Only What You Do for Your Parents That Counts--It's Your Attitude

This is incredibly self-explanatory. You can do the nicest things in the world for your parents and yet still talk to them rudely. Treating and talking to your parents respectfully is more important than grand gestures you may make if you are still acting rudely to them.

A little bit of a segue: I was talking to my dad on our drive home from college about how fortunate I am in the friends that I have. The vast majority of my friends have a wonderful relationship with their parents. They respect their parents and talk to their parents often. That's something I definitely really appreciate.

Day 133: Shabbat

How beautiful it has been to be home this week! Of course I miss some of my college friends but I've gotten to catch up with so many high school friends and dance friends and shul friends. It's just been so nice to see everyone I care about so much.

• What Does It Mean to Honor and Rever Your Parents?: N/A
• What You Don't Owe Your Parents: N/A
• Escort Your Guests: I was thinking about this yesterday as I drove one of my best friends to the Metro station. I made sure to watch to see that she got to the sidewalk ok and watched her walk in for a little bit before driving off.
• Two Pieces of Paper: N/A
• Read and Listen to Points of View with Which You Disagree: N/A
• It's Not Only What You Do for Your Parents That Counts--It's Your Attitude: What I've noticed about myself is that when I'm away from home and sitting at one of the Jewish student centers on campus and we say birkat hamazon after eating, I always always always make sure i include the parts thanking my father my teacher and my mother my teacher. I think it's so beautiful that there's a part of the grace after meals where we can just thank our parents. I'd like to learn more about why this is included in this prayer.

Day 134: "Educate a Child According to His Way"

When my brother was little, he had a special fascination with firetrucks. My parents couldn't drive past a fire station without my brother commenting in his little boy way. They'd always stop and get out and look around the fire station, indulging my brother in something he really enjoyed.

When I became more and more interested in horses, my parents would take me to the stables closest to our house and just walk around with me while I babbled on and on about each type of horse and the stables themselves.

My parents always have encouraged us to pursue things that we're interested in or good at. And even when we weren't good at something but we needed to know it for school, they'd work with us to help us understand or help us carry out the procedures necessary. They'd find resources online if they didn't know how to help us. They truly emulate this value, they have always tried to educate both of us according to our ways.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”