“My grandma said: ‘Sunday best everyday– what are you saving it for?’.” – Dom, Sussex, England
“When in doubt about what to do, ask yourself: what would you do if you were fearless?” – Aniek, Delft, Netherlands
“I met my husband aged 17. Before we married, we worked in a residential home. One of the lovely residents, Mrs Belcher, advised us to ‘never go to bed on an argument’. We took that advice and it’s served our marriage well for 45 years and counting.” – Trudie, Norfolk, England
“‘Nothing new happens in your comfort zone – don’t be scared’.” – Short, Wales
“‘If you go into a room full of smokers, you’re going to come out smelling like smoke’. Essentially: be careful who you associate with.”– Rachel, Florida, US
“My grandma and parents shared the same piece of wisdom: ‘You’ll always want more in life. Better bicycle, newer toys, more money, bigger house, faster car. Learn to enjoy what you have, not what you don’t’.” – Dorian, London, England
“Our mother, Sylvia’s, sage advice: ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice’. It’s no coincidence that my sister Christine and I followed in Mum’s footsteps working in community, arts and wellness.”– Susan, Brighton, England
“My father is a deeply loving man, but a man of few words. The only piece of advice he has imparted so far is: ‘The only thing you need to do is keep moving forward’. He repeated this advice at life’s large junctures: leaving school, after break-ups, even after bereavements. It has stayed with me because it doesn’t attach any judgements or values, simply acknowledges the value of putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how impossible that might seem at the time.” – Emily, Devon, England
“‘Every person you meet has something to teach you’. It’s so true. You meet people from all walks of life and everyone has different experiences you can learn from. It’s always encouraged me to view people with an open mind. This was from my neighbour, Gary, who was my dad’s best friend.”– Leah, Wirral, England
“My dad said: ‘Start a job and finish it’. It’s served me very well.”– Heidi, Hertfordshire, England
“‘Don’t follow fashions, start them’.” – Adela, UK
“My parents would say: ‘Don’t assume’. I think they were largely referring to making assumptions about how two people, close to each other, too often mistakenly assume what the other’s feelings are, or what actions they have taken (or plan to take).” – Bill, Seattle, US
“‘If you want something, you have to work for it’. So I got a job delivering newspapers.”– Yvonne, Norway
“‘Two wrongs don’t make a right’.” – Christine, Surrey, England
The only thing you need to do is keep moving forward
“My nan used to say: ‘For every negative there is always a positive’. I suppose it’s similar to ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. She explained that sometimes it’s not possible to see straight away, but that positive can always be found if you look hard enough. It helps me to put challenges and obstacles into perspective.” – Molly, Bristol, England
“‘Love is the answer’. No matter what, if you do things with love, you can’t go wrong. I’m talking about the kind of love that lifts up, that considers others, that demonstrates respect, that keeps hope, that shows kindness, that helps, that serves, that opens hearts, that doesn’t need a megaphone. That kind of love can move mountains.” – Christine, British Columbia, Canada
“‘Compassion begins with an open ear’. My father told me to be a good listener. I have since realised the importance of listening as it brings me closer to understanding another’s perspective.” – Christopher, Granada
“‘If somebody angers you, wait for that emotion to fade before you respond to the situation’. It has helped prevent me from responding in a way that I will regret later. Often my opinion on something softens when the feeling of anger calms down.” – Tara, Netherlands
You’ll always want more in life. Better bicycle, newer toys, more money, bigger house, faster car. Learn to enjoy what you have, not what you don’t
“‘Nobody can steal your knowledge’.” – Yumi, Brazil
“‘When in conversation, be curious about the other person, ask questions’. This came from a larger-than-life family friend who did not follow his own advice.” – Rosie, Australia
“My father said: ‘never buy cheap tools’. I have occasionally disobeyed his advice and always regretted it.”– Gavin, York, England
“‘Always take time to stop and smell the flowers’.” – David, Alberta, Canada
“‘If you want to be a boy, make excuses. If you want to be a man, take responsibility. If you want to be a leader, positively impact people’s lives’.” – David, Lagos, Nigeria
“‘Don’t live for the weekend. Live each day to the fullest.’(From my dad).” – Beth, Florida, US
Main image: : Jacob Wackerhausen
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