For some, humility has felt like this redefined Biblical virtue that harbors negativity and low self-esteem. But humility, when practiced, doesn’t have to put yourself or your opinions down. In fact, it requires self-acceptance, which many of us find challenging when our parents had a second fridge in the garage. Here’s how to stay humble when your parents had extra storage for sodas and frozen meats growing up:
Practice Optimism
Humility and optimism go hand in hand when you stop wasting your time complaining about the bad things that happened to you (life before 2 fridges) or will happen to you (what if one of them breaks and you’re back to one fridge?). Take stock in what you’re lucky to have, which is somewhere to put bulk frozen meats when they’re on sale.
Remember You’re No Better Than People from 1-Fridge Families
Brag less. When your parents purchased a new fridge and put the old one in the garage, your knee-jerk reaction may have been to think of yourself as hot shit and above others. But consider this: are you less important than someone who came from a 3-fridge family? Stop comparing yourself to others.
Accept Your Personal Limitations Unrelated to The Second Fridge
You have to acknowledge that even though you can store several cans of soda and beer and hand them out to visitors like you’re some sort of mayor, that you’re still not the best at everything, or even anything. There will always be someone kinder, more hospitable, and honestly less of a stuck up bitch? Something to think about.
Complain Less, Listen More
If you spend all your time talking about yourself and how expensive your electric bill is with two fridges, then you’ll be less likely to learn from others that it’s because your old fridge has outdated insulation, inefficient motors, and poor temperature control, so you were a bad person who lacked eco-friendly behaviors to begin with.
Volunteer
Apply your newly developed humility mindset and two-fridge privilege towards a worthy cause. It can be humbling to spend the time and effort you would be walking back-and-forth to the garage all day long towards people who are grateful for your help instead.
It’s easy to take for granted the convenience of having that garage fridge, especially during Thanksgiving, but you have to be conscious about how having that second fridge informed who you are today. And don’t get defensive when faced with constructive criticism about how to become a better person! Plus it’s not even your garage. It’s your parents, people who thought it was okay to store an energy-eating monster in their garage. Wow, we didn’t even get into mini-fridges and chest freezers!
