best advice you have ever been given that you live by (most days)

[waitaminutenow]

Going off another post....what is the best advice that you have received from parents (or anyone else really) advice that you live by and that you will pass on to your children/ friends etc.

Mine are;

1. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
2. Aim to have a wage that matches your age.

And

1. Always apologise for your part to play in arguments etc. Be the bigger person.

Can't say I always apologise but I do try.....hehe

My dad: you can do anything but you can't do everything

From my mum:
It's better to light a single candle than to sit there and curse the darkness.

My Dad told me once "What's done, is done" and I remember that now often when stressing over things!

"it's one I read on MN. I use people's names frequently when speaking to them, ie "Yes Rachel" "Thanks Rachel" etc and I have found since I have more pleasant conversations with people"

Sorry, but I can't stand that, it's so unnatural and I even find it patronising. I had a Canadian colleague who used to do it. I had to ask her to stop.

Always treat people as you would want to be treated yourself

You can't control others behaviour but you can control how you react to it

When I left home, my mum's parting advice to me was:

"Always keep your gin in the fridge"

Shit happens....its how you cope with it that counts.

Don't meet misfortune halfway.

I once got a greetings card from a friend which said 'thank god. All those years of worry finally paid off.' Makes me smile to think of it and I have another version of the same sentiment that I really love too, 'what if it all goes right?'

Many thanks to the mumsnetter who reminded me of those wonderful Baz Luhrman lyrics. I am of the class of '99, that song reminds me of lying in a warm tent shading us from the sun with my high school boyfriend after we'd just finished our exams and decided to go on a camping shagging break. Now I'm closer to 40 than 20 it really resonates.

I had a great boss who gave me amazing business advice. She advised bullet points at all times (no more rambling dilemmas) and advocated complete honesty. It stopped me being in those weird situations where you're trying to convince a business contact that things aren't really so bad, when in fact they are! I think honesty in business is hugely helpful - I mean not going down the route of euphemism, soft soaping etc.

Mumsnet has a great one about your inside only seeing other peoples outsides (words to that effect). Very handy when you're thinking everyone else seems more competent and calm, they are usually panicking as much as you are inside.

There's also a bit in a Helen fielding novel (not Bridget Jones) where the heroine walks into a party and reminds herself that no one is looking at her - they are all too busy worrying that others are looking at them. Kind of a useful way to look at life and people generally.

from my mom when i was young

always pay the rent because you have a roof over your head

and never hang poverty at your windows you may be living on bread and dripping and sitting on orange boxes but if you have nice window dressing no one will know

Gwenhwyfar my aren't you contrary

Don't borrow troubles from tomorrow.

Or sufficuent unto the day is the evil thereof.

And from MN - do not engage [with your EA x]
And put down the big stick and stob beaying yourself.

Or even stop beating yourself

I should also 'proof read before hitting post'

Don't skimp when buying a bed or shoes-if you're not in one then you're in the other.

When in doubt say nowt and don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

I love me a good Dumbledore quote;
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.”

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should"

Love many
Trust few
Always paddle
Your own canoe

I say that an awful lot to DC, StillYum.

from Oprah- write down what you are grateful for-big and small
from 1st lover after separation-face the music
from mum and dad-health is more important than wealth
from me -nothing lasts forever

"This too shall pass"
"If you're going through hell keep going "

These have got me through many a day when I feel like giving up and can't take anymore.

I hate the name thing too, sorry :(

Anothrr vote for hating the name thing. Always sounds like they've been on a course.

From my lovely mum:

'You can get 80% of the results for 20% of the effort' I may over apply this in my working life

'The way to eat an elephant is in bite size chunks'

And a Quaker one that stays with me from my schooling:

'Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every man'

From my dog. If you can't eat it or have fun with it. Piss on it and walk away
Love that one!

Don't touch that, it's live!

Iliveatthebeach Thank you for the 'Wear Sunscreen' song words.
It's great advice and should be played over and over to teenagers because it's sooo true.