What is the best piece of advice you were given?

[Ilovewaffles]

That's quite enough of that. Please jacket in.

Button your lip!

 

[CALJO]

Don’t listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about.

 

[JimmyMac]

Some great advice here and I've had some snippets given to me, however, I think Baz Lurhmann captured it all superbly

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’97
Wear Sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice, now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself, and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….
You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy;
sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind; the race is long,
and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…
the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll divorce at 40,
maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…
what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much
or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance,
so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can,
don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Brother and sister together we'll make it through,
Someday a spirit would take you and guide you there,
I know you've been hurting but I've been waiting to be there for you,
And I'll be there just helping you out, whenever I can.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings, they're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse;
but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

 

[JustinT350]

^ I like this, a lot

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

 

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Some great advice here and I've had some snippets given to me, however, I think Baz Lurhmann captured it all superbly

The modern day Desitderata

 

[BlueOrange25]

I'm the last person you should go to for relationship advice, but bitter heart-s***-on experience is still experience

Wrestling memes there to illustrate the points

Spoiler

This is the best relationship advice that I've been given.

And true to form, I ignored it

---

If something about your partner bothers you, then speak with them. Don't let your grievances fester.

Tom Cruise had it wrong (re: Jerry Maguire): your partner is an addition to your life, not the piece to "complete" you.

Complete yourself before seeking a relationship. Share your awesomeness when you're ready.

Talk to your partner about money-related issues. It always matters.

If you decide to end the relationship, then be decisive about finishing.

 

[VivaE]

"You get one chance to make a first impression."

I don't rate this one, particularly in an interview context.

 

[LFC Jon]

What if it's something you need though (like a new washing machine) get it now on credit card or save up for months a d not have a washing machine

Hand wash

 

[iqoniq]

Some great advice here and I've had some snippets given to me, however, I think Baz Lurhmann captured it all superbly

He took it from Mary Schmich. There were a load of people who'd been credited with (Kurt Vonnegut and Kofi Annan mainly), and when Baz Lurhmann decided to put it to music he uncovered during the research that it was Schmich.

For anyone who hasn't seen it...

 

[Miss Mandy]

I used to have a poster of that on my bedroom wall around 1999/2000-ish. I was a lost teenager when the track came out having just finished sixth form and found it to be quite profound. It helped me realise that whatever I did next was just one step in my journey and it helped me figure out which relationships were important.

 

[BlueOrange25]

I'm not a parent but some words of wisdom from my friends who are parents of children in secondary school:

• Work out how much you think children will cost - and then double it.
• It's fine to feel like parenting is like improvising as you go along.
• Go easy on yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help. Trying to be a super-parent and doing your best aren't the same thing.

 

[Plumsandpearls]

I'm not a parent but some words of wisdom from my friends who are parents of children in secondary school:

• Work out how much you think children will cost - and then double it.
• It's fine to feel like parenting is like improvising as you go along.
• Go easy on yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help. Trying to be a super-parent and doing your best aren't the same thing.

My dad used to complain about how expensive children were, and he was tempted to work out over the years what he spent on us.
I never consented to being born. All expenses are his fault.

 

[1742]

My dad used to complain about how expensive children were, and he was tempted to work out over the years what he spent on us.
I never consented to being born. All expenses are his fault.

If my parents complained about that I always told them "you had your fun now pay the price" it seemed to go down well

 

[davidjohnson]

• Work out how much you think children will cost - and then sell it.

 

[JudgeDredd2010]

I knew a Managing Director who had this on his wall.

The Nothing People

They do not lie;
they just neglect to tell the truth.
They do not take;
they simply cannot bring themselves to give.
They will not rock the boat;
but did you ever see them pull an oar?
They do not hurt you;
they merely will not help you.
They do not hate you;
they merely cannot love you.
They will not burn you;
they’ll only fiddle while you burn.
They are the nothing people;
the sins of omission folk.
So give me every time an
honest sinner, or even a Saint.
But protect me from the
Nothing people.

Anon.

 

[GadgetGuru]

Always wash after you wipe.

 

[Downinja]

"A wise man told me don't argue with fools, because people from a distance can't tell who is who"

Jay-Z

 

[Sloppy Bob]

"A wise man told me don't argue with fools, because people from a distance can't tell who is who"

Jay-Z

On a similar theme.

Never argue with an idiot.
First of they'll drag you down to their level, then they'll beat you with experience.

 

[ih8mondays]

Always wash your hands after using the touch screens at McDonalds or similar places before eating your food.

As some people using those screens didn't wash their hands after using the loo.

 

[BlueOrange25]

Always wash your hands after using the touch screens at McDonalds or similar places before eating your food.

As some people using those screens didn't wash their hands after using the loo.

Take no risks and be prepared.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

I remember when I was a teenager, I was trying to help my mother move a large and heavy clothes washer. I was having a very tough time with it, and one of my uncles was also there. He moved me aside to do it himself, and when I protested, he said very patiently: "A real man knows and understands his limitations." I still remember that advice, and use it whenever I can.

 

[LFC Jon]

I remember when I was a teenager, I was trying to help my mother move a large and heavy clothes washer. I was having a very tough time with it, and one of my uncles was also there. He moved me aside to do it himself, and when I protested, he said very patiently: "A real man knows and understands his limitations." I still remember that advice, and use it whenever I can.

I did a manual handling course at work, the tutor was an ex Royal Marine, who had done his back in while on duty and had to leave the RM, he said there's no shame in asking for help.

 

[Hixs]

I laughed the last time I did one of those. Anything over 20kg being a 2 man lift?! Yeah ok...it's called muscle!

 

[Drew Who]

Best piece of advice I was given was years ago by an older woman at work. I was expecting my first child (well, I wasn't, my wife was) and she said "Children will make you laugh a lot and they'll make you cry sometimes. Anything else different is just a bonus. Just let them learn and be there for them when they need you."
I've stuck by that and yeah, seems to have worked well

 

[Drew Who]

I knew a Managing Director who had this on his wall.

The Nothing People

They do not lie;
they just neglect to tell the truth.
They do not take;
they simply cannot bring themselves to give.
They will not rock the boat;
but did you ever see them pull an oar?
They do not hurt you;
they merely will not help you.
They do not hate you;
they merely cannot love you.
They will not burn you;
they’ll only fiddle while you burn.
They are the nothing people;
the sins of omission folk.
So give me every time an
honest sinner, or even a Saint.
But protect me from the
Nothing people.

Anon.

My god but that is awesome! Thanks for sharing.