7 old-fashioned beliefs my boomer parents hammered into me that I'm only now realizing the value of

Growing up, I rolled my eyes at a lot of what my parents told me.

You know how it is. When you're a teenager, everything your parents say feels outdated or just plain wrong. But here I am, years removed from my childhood home, and I keep catching myself thinking about the things they drilled into me.

The funny thing about getting older is that you start to see your parents weren't just being difficult. A lot of what they said actually made sense. They just had a terrible way of selling it to a stubborn kid who thought he knew better.

So today, I want to share seven old-fashioned beliefs my boomer parents hammered into me that I'm only now realizing the value of.

1. A handshake matters

My dad was relentless about this one.

"Give a firm handshake," he'd say before every important meeting or event. "Not too hard, not too soft. Look them in the eye."

At the time, I thought it was ridiculous. Who cares about a handshake? We're just saying hello.

But I get it now. A handshake is more than just a greeting. It's a signal of confidence, reliability, and respect for the person you're meeting. It sets the tone for everything that follows.

When I was managing a language school in my twenties, I noticed the difference it made. The teachers who gave confident handshakes seemed more put together, more trustworthy. Meanwhile, those with limp handshakes or who avoided eye contact often struggled to command respect in the classroom.

The key is balance. Firm enough to show confidence, but not so firm that you're trying to prove something. Combined with direct eye contact, it makes you look professional and sophisticated.

My dad was absolutely right about this one.

2. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty

"Hard work never killed anyone," my mom used to say when I complained about chores or yard work.

I hated it. I wanted to be inside playing video games or hanging out with friends, not raking leaves or fixing things around the house.

But looking back, those experiences taught me something crucial. They taught me that I could figure things out on my own, that a little effort and problem-solving could take me far.

In my career path through finance, teaching, entrepreneurship, and writing, I've had to wear many hats. I've had to learn things on the fly, tackle problems I had no training for, and push through when things got tough.

That willingness to roll up my sleeves and figure it out? That came from those Saturday mornings spent doing chores I didn't want to do.

Too many people today wait for someone else to solve their problems or give up the moment something gets difficult. My parents didn't let me do that, and I'm grateful for it.

3. Save money, even when you don't think you need to

"Put away 10% of everything you earn," my dad would say. "You never know when you'll need it."

When I got my first job, this seemed pointless. I was young, living at home, with no real expenses. Why save?

Years later, when I decided to leave a stable teaching job to pursue entrepreneurship, that saving habit gave me the runway I needed. It gave me the freedom to take a risk without panicking about next month's rent.

I've watched friends struggle because they never built that cushion. They stayed in jobs they hated because they couldn't afford to leave. They passed on opportunities because they didn't have the financial security to take a chance.

My boomer parents understood something that gets lost today. Money isn't about being rich or showing off. It's about having options. It's about not being trapped by your circumstances.

4. Family comes first, no matter what

This one was non-negotiable in my household.

Sunday dinners weren't optional. If a family member needed help, you showed up. Arguments got resolved, not ignored.

I remember thinking my parents were old-fashioned for being so strict about this. My friends had way more freedom, and their families seemed more relaxed.

But those Sunday dinners taught me how to communicate. We sat around the table and actually talked. We disagreed sometimes, sure, but we worked through it with calm discussions rather than shouting matches or silent treatment.

More than that, having a tight-knit family gave me a safety net. When things went wrong in my life, and trust me, they have, I always had people in my corner. I never felt alone.

In a world where everyone seems increasingly isolated, that foundation of family connection has been invaluable.

5. Respect is earned through actions, not demanded

My parents never let me get away with empty talk. If I said I was going to do something, they expected me to follow through. If I wanted respect, I had to earn it through consistent action.

This was frustrating as a kid. I wanted credit just for having good intentions.

But in the real world, nobody cares about your intentions. They care about results. They care about whether you do what you say you'll do.

In my management role at the language school, I saw this play out constantly. The teachers who talked about how great they were rarely lived up to it. The ones who quietly did excellent work, who showed up consistently and delivered results, those were the ones everyone respected.

6. You won't always like what you have to do, and that's okay

"Life isn't always fun," my dad used to say. "Sometimes you just have to do things because they need to be done."

I hated hearing this. It sounded so pessimistic, so resigned.

But he was right. Not everything in life is exciting or fulfilling. Sometimes you have to do boring work, have difficult conversations, or push through tasks you don't enjoy.

The difference between successful people and everyone else often comes down to this. Successful people do the boring, unglamorous work anyway. They don't wait to feel motivated or inspired.

When I was writing my first articles, most days I didn't feel like writing. The blank page was intimidating, and I had a million other things I'd rather be doing. But I sat down and wrote anyway because that's what needed to be done.

My parents didn't coddle me or make excuses when I didn't want to do something. They taught me that discipline matters more than motivation, and that has served me well in every area of my life.

7. Physical activity isn't optional, it's essential

My parents were always pushing me to be active. Sports teams, just playing outside instead of sitting in front of the TV.

At the time, I thought they were just being annoying. But now I understand they were giving me one of the most valuable gifts possible.

Regular exercise isn't just about staying fit. Experts note it relieves stress, improves self-confidence, enhances mood, promotes better sleep, and sharpens memory and thinking.

I know I was constantly encouraged to do these things, and perhaps I overlooked the benefits it brought at the time.

Now, whether I'm working out or playing golf, that baseline of physical activity my parents instilled in me has become non-negotiable. When I skip it for too long, I notice the difference in my mood, my energy, and my ability to focus.

The bottom line

Looking back, my boomer parents got a lot of things right.

Sure, they weren't perfect. Nobody's parents are. But those old-fashioned beliefs they hammered into me, the ones I resisted so hard as a kid, have become some of the most valuable lessons I carry with me.

It's easy to dismiss older generations as out of touch. But sometimes the basics they emphasized, things like hard work, financial responsibility, family connection, and physical health, are basic for a reason.

They work.