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What is the best advice you have been given ?

(81 Posts)
Floradora9 Tue 26-Jul-22 16:25:06

I always remember my mother , who was a health visitor , telling me when I had a small baby not to worry about dirty old men but to worry about lovely clean children harbouring germs. In those days measle , mumps and chickenbox were still common. It still is a good piece of advice.

GrannySomerset Fri 29-Jul-22 15:44:45

Always say thank you even if you don’t feel it is particularly deserved. Have found this very useful and drummed into DC that good manners always paid.

Aldom Fri 29-Jul-22 15:42:39

Written in Granny's autograph book, March 9th, 1913 by Daddy.

Don't look for the flaws as you go through life,
And even when you find them,
It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind,
And look for the virtue behind them.

Wise words.

grannyrebel7 Fri 29-Jul-22 15:36:43

If you haven't got anything nice to say, say nothing.

The glass is always half full.

Always be kind to others.

TheMaggiejane1 Fri 29-Jul-22 15:11:45

Never let someone make you their victim.

I remembered this after my husband of 28 years left me with no money and 3 children. I decided he wasn’t going to ruin the rest of my life and he hasn’t!

MrsKen33 Fri 29-Jul-22 15:06:15

I’m sure I have posted this before but I only ever had one piece of advice from my mother. It was ‘ Never show a man your shoulders!!!!! Any other bits were alright I suppose. I often wonder what she really meant

Gabrielle56 Fri 29-Jul-22 14:17:27

grandtanteJE65

Two things both said by a lady who had know me since I was about a year old and said to me when I was a teenager:

If you have nothing nice to say about a person, keep your tongue between your teeth.

It is easier to start doing people favours than to stop again, so think before you start.

A variant of the first was said to the whole class by a teacher when we were about 12: saying unkind things about another person will only make the person you are talking to thnk how unkind you are. It won't necessarily change their opinion of the person you are being unkind about.

Heartily agree with these pearls.
Also never assume! That little habit can be literally a killer! We simply don't know what's going on in others' heads and we shouldn't rely on someone else's idea of the right thing to do in any given situation.take note but don't give over totally to their control.

Gabrielle56 Fri 29-Jul-22 14:13:48

If you expect the worst you're rarely right and mostly pleasantly surprised!

grandtanteJE65 Fri 29-Jul-22 14:08:54

Two things both said by a lady who had know me since I was about a year old and said to me when I was a teenager:

If you have nothing nice to say about a person, keep your tongue between your teeth.

It is easier to start doing people favours than to stop again, so think before you start.

A variant of the first was said to the whole class by a teacher when we were about 12: saying unkind things about another person will only make the person you are talking to thnk how unkind you are. It won't necessarily change their opinion of the person you are being unkind about.

jenjon1 Fri 29-Jul-22 14:08:41

There are no problems only solutions waiting to be found.

tigger Fri 29-Jul-22 13:49:33

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything.

Fernhillnana Fri 29-Jul-22 13:15:30

A brilliant driving instructor I was lucky enough to have after a lot of frogs told me to ignore what other people were doing on the road (eg getting right up behind you to intimidate you into going faster). Just drive safely yourself and if you see problems ahead, slow down…also true in general life…

Alioop Fri 29-Jul-22 13:06:24

A leopard doesn't change its spots. Took me 14 years to realise that....

icanhandthemback Fri 29-Jul-22 13:01:23

I had trust issues when I met my husband which were very difficult to overcome and made me very prickly. My husband sat me down after a particularly fretful moment and said, "Try to trust me and if I let you down, take it out on the next bloke." We had a longer conversation than that but in essence, it boiled down to that. I did (mostly) and it was the best advice anyone had ever given me because we were able to find a way forward without me killing the relationship dead. He has turned out to be very trustworthy.

Treetops05 Fri 29-Jul-22 12:55:11

When I had my first small baby and was quite depressed, my Mum told me to care only about my daughter, the house didn't matter as long as it wasn't filthy...Sadly I've followed that all my life, and my house still looks like a bombs hit it most days ?

Golfwidow Fri 29-Jul-22 12:52:19

Never assume.

Visgir1 Fri 29-Jul-22 12:26:13

From Mum.. Actions speak louder than words.
From Dad.. Trust your first thoughts.

Dempie55 Fri 29-Jul-22 12:22:27

My father always told me, when I started going out with a new boyfriend (there were many, many boyfriends....), "Never give 100% of your heart to any man, always keep at least 10% back for yourself. Then, if it all goes wrong, at least you won't end up with an empty heart."

red1 Fri 29-Jul-22 12:18:38

everyone you meet is fighting some battle, be kind if you can,or walk away.

Sheba Fri 29-Jul-22 12:10:04

Diving tip when I passed my test, let the car in front of you go when at an island before you do, never presume they will !

Another one from my Mother when mithering about what to wear, who’ll be looking at you anyway. That is certainly true the older you get, it’s like developing an invisibility cloak !

Madashell Fri 29-Jul-22 12:09:31

- make sure the name you give a child can be called down the garden without embarrassment (shame my parents didn’t follow that one!)
- che sera sera, there really are things you cannot affect so be more philosophical.

JENMA Fri 29-Jul-22 11:44:33

My father said "Never blame the past the only life you will ruin is your own"
and my Mother said " Do everything the only things you will regret is those you didn't do..

Azalea99 Fri 29-Jul-22 11:44:15

Lovely, positive thread.
My input :- Blowing out someone else’s candle won’t make yours shine any brighter.

Keekaboo Fri 29-Jul-22 11:41:35

My doctor told me not to be afraid to say NO it was the best thing ever. I took his advice and started to say no to family and friends when they kept asking me to do things I really didn’t want to or have time to do.
I was run ragged and very stressed trying to please everyone but myself but since then my life turned around.

Dorado Fri 29-Jul-22 11:33:50

The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man dies but once… in other words, there’s no point in worrying.

Dee1012 Fri 29-Jul-22 11:33:22

Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion!

Also.. Shown this excercise by a teacher, Get a cup/ mug that has different images around it. Show one side to another person and ask them, “What do you see?” They will respond with what they see on that one side of the cup.
However, your side will have different images.They are correct in what they are perceiving, but so are you..... two opposite opinions can both be true and right.