Practicing good hygiene and facing your fears

I inherited a myriad of traits from both my parents. From my father, a hearty appetite, a goofy sense of humor and his thick Chia Pet hair that requires special shampoo. From my mother, also the hearty appetite, a love of colorful scarves and a passion for working with children.

But what both of them might not realize is that they gave me a lot more than mushroom hair and an iron stomach. There are two things my dad taught me that I will never forget.

One, never leave the house without brushing your teeth. Two, don’t be scared about your future. Be excited.

Throughout my life, I’ve taken this advice on both small and large scales. I’ve thought about both of these things before intimidating job interviews, final exams worth 110 percent of my grade and going on a date for the first time with someone I actually like. I’ve thought about them when driving into a new city to call home, and even on those days when I’m walking out my front door dreading the worst.

So often, the nerves kick in, the shaking starts and the conga line of negative thoughts begin in my head. “I can’t do this.” Each time, though, I try to remember what my parents have taught me and my brother since we were little, which is that there’s so much to be happy about in life, so much to be thankful for and ultimately, what is the worst that can happen?

I always hear my mother say, “Katie, sometimes you just have to do things scared.” The reward on the other side is often far greater than I know, and all it takes is a leap of faith and a fresh toothbrush.