What's the best advice you're ever been given?

[Flickstix]

Be it from mumsnet or real life!

Whats for you won't go by you

If in doubt, don't

Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed

Life is what is happening while you are busy making other plans.

Listen to everyone's advice, but decide for youself what you want to do.

teach your hobby.

"Better to be late in this life, than early in the next" said to me by an old lady when I was about 16 and running for the bus and nearly got squashed by a car.

People can only make you feel bad if you let them

If you can't decide whether or not buy it then you probably don't want it.

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

If he did it once, he'll do it again, whatever "it" is - from my mum.

People treat you the way you let them.

If you can't fight, wear a big hat (a favourite of my mother's)

Treasure what you have

Only heard of this one recently but it's given me a lot of self-confidence:

"Dress every day like you're about to bump into the love of your life."

Also, from my dear late Nan:

"Never miss an opportunity." (She was actually referring to going for a pee at service stations during a long journey, but it still applies to the rest of life! I considered getting this phrase tattooed onto my lower back until I realised how it might look to others should I happen to be bending over in jeans picking up a pencil or whatever! )

From Ferris Bueller: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I have always loved this.

And from DH: "Never get into an argument - nobody wins". True!

That there's a point in everyone's life when you have to make the decision to stand up and be counted.

From my CBT therapist - if you find yourself overthinking something that is making you feel unhappy / anxious etc, ask yourself 'Is this thought useful?.

It really helps me get out of repetitive, negative thinking. sometimes

Do. Or do not. There is no try.

• if you feel discontented with your job, try doing it better (I got that one from City Slickers and it actually does work, it's almost the same as Hackmum's advice)

• if you are collecting a takeaway curry in the car, don't put it on the seat, put it on the floor

• if you are under 30, take it from me, you are GORGEOUS. You will agree with me in 15 years time when you look back on your photos

errorerror - funny you should mention that, I was advised that once!

Then this happened : I was about to go out once with some friends and some people they knew (but I didn't) and was thinking should bother with lipstick or not.
But I just couldn't be bothered, I thought it's not like I'm going to meet the love of my life....but I did!!!!!
despite no lipstick, we've been together for 15 years! (married for 12)

"No, you'll never 'learn to live with it'."
Whatever it is, it'll keep pissing you off / grating at you / upsetting you years down the line in the same way that it does now, so just get out / do something about it now.

'Don't put it down, put it away' - I read that on here about two weeks ago and it has become my mantra because it actually bloody works. Now all I have to do is get DH, DS1 & DS2 to follow it, and our house might start to become effortlessly tidy.

My favourite and oft-repeated one to DS1 (who tends to be rather defeatist) is
'If you think you can do a thing, or you think you can't, you're probably right'.

Also - SingingSands - total aside but are you from the Bruce by any chance?!

In regards to childrearing -just remember, everything is just a phase

If you find a job doing something you love, it won't feel like work.

What's for ye won't go by ye.

Bend, don't break.

It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice

Things always look worse when you're tired. Got to bed, have a good sleep and things will always look better in the morning. From my mum. She was always right about that when I was growing up.