To ask, what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

[Stripey3000]

I'll start. Mine was in the form of a post on the Postsecret website years ago, where people make postcards, sharing secrets anonymously. This one jumped out at me as it simply said 'You get what you settle for.' For me at the time, those were the exact words I needed to hear. I was heading towardsthe end of a failing marriage (aged 30) and thinking about whether to stay with him or not. In that moment I chose not to settle for what had become an unhappy situation for the rest of my life. 10 years on and I still remember that as a pivotal moment, seeing the sentiment I needed to help me make my decision. I have no regrets 😊
So what advice have you received that stuck with you?

You are what you think

2 from my mom just before i got married always pay your rent so you have a roof over your head, and dont hang poverty at your windows you may be sitting on orange boxes and eating bread and dripping but no one walking past will know that

You haven't failed, you've found a way that doesn't work.

@Chenga

If, as the driver, you’re sitting in the middle of the road, then you’re driving on the correct side.

Absolute gem of a piece of advice for someone who drives regularly on both sides of the Atlantic. Changed everything.

This only works if you get a different car when driving in the right- not if you drive from England to France!

Invest in people who invest in you.

If any relationship is one way traffic, then drive on. I have found this to be true romantically, professionally and personally.

Fortune favours the brave

Don't borrow trouble, it will find you soon enough.

If you get married, the question to ask yourself is not 'Can I live with this person, with all their faults etc', but rather 'Can I live without them'.

'You can't reason with crazy.'

The further you fall the harder the climb.

"better late in this world than early in the next" about driving unsafely when late.

As a PP said, "don't let perfection be the enemy of good"

"Life's short, eat dessert first 😂"

About negative self talk, "what would you say to a friend who was saying these things?" You're usually much kinder to others than yourself.

"Holding a grudge/needing to forgive someone is like there's an invisible wire connecting you to the other person. Except the hook is in you not them, they might not even be aware, when you forgive you release yourself from the pain."

@F1reFreed0m111

I agree nobody ever says, I wish I had worked more

At funerals, the comments have always been that the person enjoyed time with their; family, friends, pets, holidays, hobbies

I think everyone is different. My auntie even on her death bed was planning her return to work. She absolutely loved it and it fulfilled her a great deal. Her boss came to her funeral (covid so only 30 allowed) and she spoke about the tremendous impact that my auntie had had on all the children's lives (school). So while I get the sentiment of the saying/advice... people can certainly find identity and long lasting fulfilment in their work.

A friend said about exercise “one is better than none”, good for the days when you can’t face doing anything.

My grandma had two sayings that I’ve adopted, “don’t worry worry till worry worries you” and “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar”

And the two pieces I’ve lived by:
“don’t worry about your neighbours bowl unless it’s empty ” which came from some US comedy show.
And to do what you can where you are with what you have - no idea where I heard it but my kids are sick of hearing it!

There's always something to look forward to, whether it's a sunset, or a bar of chocolate.

"Grass is usually greenest where there's a load of bullshit..." my dear gran aged 89...

Oh, and unrelated "you don't have to believe in any gods, you know it's not compulsory"

Man plans and God laughs

From my late nan -Its no use crying over spilt milk.

The advice that DH and I always pass on to newlyweds, when asked for advice on what makes a long and happy marriage, is to remember to be kind to one another. It helps you to be mindful of the little things and encourages reciprocal behaviour from your partner, which strengthens your relationship.

One I heard on a course I did for work around 15-20 years ago, which has stood me in good stead on many occasions when I've been feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work to be completed:

"Remember to keep the main thing, the main thing."

Simple, but effective!

Taste makes waist....didn't take this advise as I'm obese 😀

"A woman must always earn her own money "

" Be careful what you set your heart on, because you'll probably get it"

Both from my mother.

"Always have your own bank book". Thanks mammy!

You are what you constantly do.

If you won't remember it in 5 years it's not worth 5 minutes of worry now!

The dreading is worse than the doing

@Chenga

If, as the driver, you’re sitting in the middle of the road, then you’re driving on the correct side.

Absolute gem of a piece of advice for someone who drives regularly on both sides of the Atlantic. Changed everything.

Eh ?