5 life lessons from my 5-year-old cousin
I asked my 5-year-old cousin for advice on some of the issues I was having. His answers made me realize that life’s biggest problems actually do have the simplest solutions as, Dr. Seuss once said.
-”Life is hard!” I exclaim to my 5-year old-cousin Meba, not in the hopes of a solution, but in sheer hopelessness.
-It is. I mean, look at my mom.
-What about her? (She’s pregnant and asleep most of the time.)
-She lives with a watermelon in her belly. She said the watermelon grows every day. It must be really hard to grow a watermelon in your belly. I should go give her and her watermelon a hug.
He went off into his mom’s room, leaving me to wonder about watermelons and pregnant people. Meba is my 5-year-old cousin, and he has a knack for being completely random, mindlessly funny, and oddly wise.
If you’re looking for how to accurately predict stock market direction by observing market indicators, you should probably ask an expert in that field. However, If you’re looking for life advice, someone to put things into perspective and just give you a clear and simple solution, the right person might be the nearest 5-year-old kid you know. Although valuable, the deathbed advice is not necessarily a rule of thumb on how you should live. The perspective of the 5-year-old is much more on point because of their clear view of life. Advice from a kid is usually not subject to regrets or hindsight biases. (Most times, that is; don’t eat a banana peel if they tell you to.)
That’s why I asked my 5-year-old cousin for advice on some of the issues I was having. His answers made me realize that life’s biggest problems actually do have the simplest solutions as, Dr. Seuss once said.
Meba, what should I do to beat procrastination?
“Maybe focus on your grades. If you have an F, you can study hard and not get an F. And don’t waste your time doing things you don’t have to do.“
What should I do to be physically fit?
“You have to eat and exercise really well, so you don’t get fat. You must do basketball, football like in the football match we’re watching.”
What do you do if you want someone to like you?
“You can do good things. And don’t lie unless it’s April 1st.”
Do you have any tips about Money?
“If you want to stop wasting your money, you have to buy only what you need. Don’t buy everything you want. Not even a lot of chocolates.”
(Meba is all too versed about the perils of consumerism. )
What do you do when you miss someone?
“It’s like I want to go somewhere. When I miss Lina[his sister], I like to call, send voice messages, and text.” (It really is as simple as that, reach out.)
How do you resolve arguments?
“ Using games. You can play and stop arguing and also take deep breaths.”
What should I do to live longer?
“ I don’t know. I’m only 5.”
Do you have any fashion tips for me, Meba?
“Buy lots of t-shirts. Cool t-shirts with smiling cartoons on them. Maybe Tom and Jerry or Spiderman. Buy spiderman's t-shirts.”
Maybe you shouldn’t exactly follow Meba’s fashion tips, but the rest are simply and maybe quite surprisingly insightful tips on health, money, school, love, and life.