As someone who used to work with at-risk youth, I am well-aware of how a child's living environment can impact their development and well-being. Most professionals limit this to the home environment but I personally would extend it to the regional area a child lives in, as this plays a critical part in the child's cultural perspectives and values. I was pretty lucky to grow up in a stable, loving home and have lived all but the first three months of my life in Arizona. Growing up in the desert and spending time with family in incredibly rural areas, I believe, taught me a thing or two about life. Check out these 15 life lessons shared by many Arizonans.
1. Drink water every day.
Also, always carry water with you.
2. Water is precious, so limit your use.
3. Do not swim in canals.
4. Always watch where you step.
5. And always shake your shoes before putting them on.
You know why.
6. If going into rural or wilderness areas, always let someone know where you're going.
Bring a buddy if you can.
7. The sun can definitely cook food.
8. It can also cook you.
Recovering from a bad sunburn probably had you rethinking sunscreen.
9. You know exactly how to find the best parking spot.
I think I see a shady spot.
10. If you came from a responsible gun-owning family, you learned gun safety at an early age.
11. All Arizona drivers can be crazy drivers.
But not as bad as those people from out-of-state, right?
12. Always be prepared to dress for two climates, especially when traveling around the state.
Sometimes it’s colder in Tuba City than you think.
13. Stake your claim early for parade routes.
14. Those basic bilingual (or, better yet, trilingual) skills you learned in school or on the playground will help you out one day.
15. Perhaps most important of all, you learned to respect nature and all of her wonders.
What other life lessons have you learned from growing up in Arizona? Tell us in the comments below!
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