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

[Flickstix]

Be it from mumsnet or real life!

?I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.?
― Maya Angelou

behaviour never lies.
That one really sorts out the men from the goats.

Pessimism is not more realistic than optimism

All these are brilliant.

Best advice from my dad: '1/3 of people you meet will really like you, 1/3 will be indifferent and 1/3 may not like you. Accept that because you can't win everyone over and will never be able to please everybody'. I found that really useful when I was trying to make friends at Uni or deal with colleagues; women want to please everybody and often want everyone to like them and it's just not possible. The fact that he showed it was not even statistically possible made it feel less personal!

Also from my dad: 'Making the life you want takes work.' I was complaining to him about struggles of moving, taking a new job etc. And he reminded me that sometimes its easier to stagnate, to stay in your home time and stay in the same job and not try something new. Doing so takes work - but is worth the reward.

Don't look backward, always forward. The toughest one to follow.

you can decide to forgive any one, any time! they don't have to say "sorry" for you to do so

beig bitter/angry is a waste of time and energy

I am very fond of a Miss Marple saying , when in doubt about what's going on or what people really mean: "look at what has actually happened"

Ie ignore the noise, words, drama and look at only what has physically happened.

Choose your attitude every morning when you choose your clothes

If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Don't go and fetch the baboons out from behind the hills, they will come anyway.

The past is history. The future is mystery. There is only one place to live and that is now.

awhistling - does the baboon one means don't go looking for trouble?

Be careful what you wish for. So true.

If your husband is being unfaithful and you want him back - Don't rise to it, do nothing, disengage and become a mystery woman.

What goes around, comes around. Also true.

The front page test: Don't do anything you wouldn't want in a report on the front page of the paper.

If its to be, it's to be me (if I want t, I should do it myself)

Always have something to challenge you and something to look forward to

Assets earn you money (cars and TVs are not assets, they never generate income)

Accept it, deal with it, move on.

Don't Panic - Douglas Adams

The older I get, the truer it gets....

badmissm - but make sure you have a towel and a translator fish!!!

And another pearl of wisdom: Go with your gut! Intuition has our best interest at heart.
this is so very true and especially helpful for things like kids' illnesses or recognizing a potentially dangerous situation.

Trust your own instincts.

amazing I think it is the South African equivalent or never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you - with a 'brace yourself 'cause it's coming anyway' kinda twist! One of my mother's favourites!

Measure twice, cut once. Thanks Dad! :)

Off the top of my head, from a friend proferring a tube of Kamilosan. "Put this on after every feed, don't wait until your nipples get sore to use it".

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do - Dr Spock (I think).

Don't ever use 'being female' as an excuse not to do something.Told to me by my dad when he showed me how to change a tyre for the first time.Probably not as relevant now,but in the 1980's when he told me,it was.

Also: The more people have studied different methods of bringing up children the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is the best after all. All parents do their best job when they have a natural, easy confidence in themselves. Better to make a few mistakes from being natural than to try to do everything letter-perfect out of a feeling of worry.

"live within your means if you can't afford it don't buy it!"

my mother on repeating gossip must pass 3 sieves a) is it true? b) is it necessary and c) is it kind?

" also whatsoever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them" from sermon on the mount

You are responsible for your own happiness (not sure if anyone's ever actually said this to me, but I've learned it from watching my mother do the exact opposite her whole life).

Would it still be ok if everyone did it?

Do as you would be done by.

Sleep on it.

Never do tomorrow what can be done today.

Never part on a quarrel.

Don't complain about something you can change - change it.

Don't do anything you wouldn't want everyone to know about.

Never No, always go back for your handbag!

Don't lick the vertical pole on the ski chair lift to see how cold it is.

"If it won't ruin your life, don't let it ruin your day"

and (regarding bereavement)

"You don't get over it but you do get used to it" (actually nobody told me that, it's one I discovered myself after suddenly losing DDad but I think it's really true and wanted to share...)