Loads - but I don’t always take it!
“If you're in a scary place, pretend to be a scary person”
I had a version of this from both parents - if you feel threatened by someone go crazy or at least pretend to - I have done this and it has worked very well.
“Beer before wine - fine. Wine before beer - fear” again slightly different version “grape or grain never the Twain” - don’t mix grape and grain.
“Drive like everyone else is a bloody idiot. Thanks Dad.”
Mine says “as if everyone else driving is blind, deaf and stupid!” Again has served me well drivers do stupid shit!
Mum and dad - never fire a gun somebody else has loaded. Meant both figuratively and literally. Literally is basic gun safety, figuratively means don’t be manipulated into fighting someone else’s battles for them and taking the blame. Something I was prone to falling for at school and in first few jobs.
Aunt - “you don’t really know a man until you divorce him” so true!
“This too shall pass”
Nobody I knew told me this I came across it elsewhere but it’s my favourite saying. I have serious mental illness and a disability and things can get very tough sometimes this saying has literally saved my life on occasion.
Both grans - “if they gossip TO you they’ll gossip ABOUT you” - again very true! I should’ve paid heed to this earlier than I did.
@EineReiseDurchDieZeit - the version I was taught by my granda was “watch how someone treats those of a lower status to them or who they think are lower status, that will tell you all you need to know” I ignored it early in my dating life at my peril, now I always notice how not only potential dates but potential friends treat waiting staff, cleaners etc and anyone who treats them poorly I steer clear of.
“You can’t always be the smartest person in the room, but endeavour not to be the most foolish” - one of my earliest lecturers
“If you raise your children you'll get to spoil your grandchildren. If you spoil your children you'll get to raise your grandchildren.” First time I’ve heard that one, I know a few people for whom it’s too late for them to learn this!
Parents AND grandparents “you only get one chance to make a good first impression” said in relation to job interviews but good advice generally
“The words of the serenity prayer, I’m not an alcoholic, but it still resonates.
If everyone else can do it, why can’t you.” I was going to mention this. Family full of addicts so it regularly crops up on my fb, and I’m agnostic at best these days, but still wise words to contemplate.