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People Share The Best Piece Of Advice They've Ever Gotten

People Share The Best Piece Of Advice They've Ever Gotten
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Life doesn't come with a blueprint, instructions, nor a roadmap of what to expect in the days and years ahead. It does, however, contain all kinds of people who've lived life for longer than you.

Those people can be a HUGE help.

Older, wiser, and more experienced, some people have encountered--and overcome--struggles that you currently face or haven't even met yet.

The advice and guidance provided by those people, often in small, bite size pieces, can provide a very helpful array of guiding compasses to be used whenever the appropriate situation arises.

And just in case you're running low on wise people and advice in your life, a recent Reddit thread pulled together a laundry list of wise axioms.

sayantane asked, "What is the best piece of advice you've ever gotten?"

People Break Down The Best Loophole They've Ever Exploited

Many people chose to discuss the pragmatic pieces of advice they've heard over the years. These platitudes can all go quite far in ensuring real, concrete success.

Until It's Breezy 

"Study to the point where the tests seem like they're insulting your intelligence. Best calc professor Ive had" -- Fruooop

"That's a really good way of putting it. I'll have to remember that."

"Something I've read in the past, that's sort of similar: 'Don't just study until you *can* get the questions *right*. Study until you *can't* get the questions *wrong*.' " -- skullturf

Stock Up First 

"Pay your savings account FIRST."

"Don't wait until the day before you get paid to move the left overs into an account."

-- FrostyRain5286

Business, Pleasure

"Never lend money you aren't prepared to lose." -- ProfessorFunky

"The saying I read quite a few years ago was 'don't lend money to friends or family unless you can afford to lose both' this has helped me in making mostly good decisions on who I ever lend money to." -- Curious-

Keep It Fresh

"If someone offers you a breath mint, take it." -- Aspy17

"That's a really good advice. I usually hand out chewing gums, when I myself take some, to feel generous. It's good nobody offered me one while not taking one themselves yet." -- Ziriath

Actions, not Words 

"Anyone can replace you in the job you do. It's not your job to boast about how irreplaceable you are, but to prove to them that they don't WANT to replace you."

"There's a difference."

-- [deleted]

Opportunity Knocks

" 'When you're in a new area, never pass up an opportunity to pee.' -My Dad" -- DingleberryHandpump6

"I'm just realizing that on all of the road trips I've taken the last few years I can't remember the whole drive, but I can definitely remember the random areas in the woods I pulled over to pee lol." -- MrEngin33r

Other people shared the advice they've used to improve the social realm of their own life.

With friendships, romantic partnerships, and romantic relationships dominating so much of our lives, it's so important to feel sure you're handling all that as best as you can.

The Cardinal Directions 

" 'When it's her moment stand behind her. When she's nervous stand beside her. When she's scared stand in front of her. The rest you'll figure out.' - My Grandmother on women" -- WholeMilkStandard

"I love your grandma!!" -- Neverthelilacqueen

Keep Rage At Bay 

"From my friend's late father, a wise old man from Trinidad:"

"Any man can get your goat, if you let him know where your goat is tied."

-- JimmyBallocks

Recognize and Accept

"Don't be mad when people act exactly like you expected them too." -- libertaine

"You can be disappointed without being surprised" -- RAGECOMIC_VICAR

"As I heard someone say regarding a certain 2016 presidential candidate his party nominated to his displeasure 'when someone tells you who they are you should believe them' " -- HitEmWithDatKTrain

Check Your Sources 

"Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from" -- thehotdeskpodcast

"Well that rules out like 98% of the people I interact with." -- MrEngin33r

"Thank you. No need to give our power away." -- kittanjaan

People Are Not Psychics 

" 'You have to ask for what you want from people, make your position clear.' "

"Don't just assume people know what your problem is, communication is key. It is great for relationships, work, friendships, school and even playing team sports or video games."

-- SuecidalBard

Other people discussed matters of the soul. These tidbits were all about how to handle being a human being with complex emotional states.

Let It Go 

" 'You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. If words can control you, that means everyone can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.' "

"It's easier said than done, but it's 100% true."

-- mytwoquarters

Give More Love 

"Don't be afraid to show gratitude. I don't know why, but for most of my life I was embarrassed to reach out and thank people for a variety of things."

"I'd say 'thanks' to stuff like everyone does. But feeling comfortable giving specific and thoughtful expressions of gratitude has been a journey well worth taking."

-- wtfreddititsme

Comparative Suffering Doesn't Work 

" 'It doesn't matter if someone has it worse than you, you're still having a hard time and that makes your problems valid and gives you the right for help.' " -- BenaBenaBadBad

"I remember one similar to this that was like 'just because someone else is in a full body cast, it doesn't mean that your broken arm doesn't hurt' " -- UnwaveringBear

Only So Much Control

"You can do everything right and still be wrong."

"Basically, for me that's a reminder to enjoy the moments in life and enjoy the journey. It means for me to try hard for what I want, but to not think that doing everything right means that I will get what I want."

-- ConvenienceStoreDiet


This is by no means a full list of all the best advice out there. Every moment, people are learning from mistakes, powering through struggles, and bestowing the learned knowledge onto others in their lives.

Keep your ears open enough and you'll never stop learning from those people.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

advice

Things People Secretly Love But Would Never Admit To In Public

Reddit user sweet_chick283 asked: 'What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?;

Collection of VHS tapes
Bruno Guerrero/Unsplash

What makes us all unique is our passions and the things we love, whether it's singing in the shower, reading books, or listening to specific music artists.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are judged for our various tastes and interests thanks to social media, and it makes us consciously selective about sharing the things we love on the internet.

Curious to hear about people's personal desires under anonymity, Redditor sweet_chick283 asked:

"What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?"

These aren't really chores for the following Redditors.

Good Clean Fun

"Mopping, im a janitor and generally hate my work... but damn mopping is so good."

– MrDDog06

"When you have a great rhythm going it is something special. I get the same feeling while I vacuum, but won’t let my wife know I enjoy it."

– Bogus_34

Act Of Unwrinkling

"Ironing clothes. A dozen of them. Can’t explain how it relaxes me. I told one person and they looked at me like I’m crazy."

– eerie_white_glow

"My mum misses the days when dad would be out on a Friday night, my brother out with friends and me upstairs quietly playing PS1. She would pour herself a Bacardi & Coke and do the ironing while watching her TV shows."

"I'm sure she doesn't really miss it now that we've moved out and they've retired but it was her wind-down after a busy working week so I can see how people can find it relaxing."

– xdq

Our solo actions can spark joy.

Big Brother Is Watching

"pretending to be on the Truman show and whenever im in my house i act all inconspicuous so they dont know that i know that they’re watching me."

– Bec_121

"C’mon man, you’re not supposed to let him know. You signed a contract when signing up for live views. I’m reporting you."

– doeswaspsmakehoney

The Multi-Tasker

"Playing video games naked at home while eating cheese."

– thickening_agent

Releasing The Kraken

"I love the feeling when you've eaten good fibre and let out a solid long train log in the toilet. That feeling is heavenly."

– therapoootic

"Even better when it’s a clean wipe and not a poo crayon."

– TheWarmestHugz

Ultimate Comfort

"My (male 41) weekend routine is coming home from work, make hot chocolate, start a fire, dress in a ugly pink nightgown made for old ladies and watch forensic files."

– crazyloomis

Some people are obsessed with collecting things.

So Kawai

"Sanrio stationery stores. All those different multicolor pens, a thousand kinds of erasers, spiral bound notebooks galore... my kids sadly have absolutely no appreciation for this wonderland..."

– HavingNotAttained

It's A Staple

"Office supplies have a weird, special place in my heart ever since I was a kid. They don't even have to be 'cute' necessarily."

"Japan's legendary stationery stores is unironically a reason I want to go."

– _CozyLavender_

Not Caring Anymore

"The older I get the shorter that list gets. Not because I love less things, but because I don't care about hiding it."

– Bi-Beast

"YES!! I'm 53 now. I'm working my first job in public since 2006. Today is Halloween and we're allowed to dress up so I am sitting here waiting to go to work dressed as a VERY bad Wednesday Addams. My bf said I'd 'look stupid' because no one else will probably dress up and I'm like, 'WHO CARES!' My makeup looks horrible and not like I practiced, but I DO NOT CARE! I'm having fun with it anyhow and I don't care if my coworkers dress up or not. I'm bein' ME! :)"

– deanie1970

Honorable mentions start here.

The Savior

"Picking up worms from the street and sidewalks when it rains and moving them into the dirt so they don’t burn in the sun, every time it rains I do this."

– sky_kitten89

Hero Of The Moment

"Yoooo I scoot SO many snails and worms. I work as a tech/mechanic at an automotive shop, I had a peoject car towed to my house the other day and it was covered in snails. I saw them when the tow guy/coworker was unloading and I was like, 'oh! It comes with free snails!' and began moving them. He laughed then realized and said, '... Oh, you're serious. Uh... Okay.'"

"I don't care who knows it. These little things barely can look out for themselves, why shouldn't we if we can take a moment to help? I don't care what happens next, it probably doesn't matter overall but I can help this moment."

– chris14020

Why should some of the hidden desires mentioned above have to be secret?

Redditors opening up about some of these would make them a hit at parties–no shaming.

As a matter of fact, I'll totally be down for a Forensic Files viewing party where we all make hot chocolate, light the fireplace, and cozy up together in our respective pink ugly nightgowns for old ladies.

secret

Historical Events So Ridiculous They Sound Made Up

historical reenactors
Sigmund on Unsplash

We've probably all heard some variation of the saying "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Real life isn't just strange, it can also be downright ridiculous.

History is riddled with moments of absurdity.

So ridiculous that people have a hard time believing real life is, well, really real.

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history

The Most Embarrassing Things People Have Ever Googled

woman in black long sleeve shirt covering her face
Ivan Aleksic on Unsplash

I freely admit I'm of a certain age where my primary education occurred before the age of the internet—when our questions were answered with conversations with experts, encyclopedias or knowing how to use card catalogs.

My knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System is largely useless today.

Research is drastically different now—sorry Melvil Dewey. Internet search engines quickly became the difference between occasionally finding an outdated version of the information we were looking for and rarely not finding current information on the most obscure of topics.

Unless your Google game is super weak, you're likely to find what you're looking for or something close to it unlike the good old days when our chances were hit or mis—with lots of misses.

So what do we use this amazing, life-changing tool for?

Well...

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technology