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People Share The Best Pieces Of Advice They've Ever Received

Scrabble tiles that read "Live Life"
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Sometimes adulting is incredibly hard, especially when we're going through a trying time or are struggling with our health or mental health.

These pieces of advice may seem simple on the surface, but especially during the hard times, they could create a meaningful change for someone.


Redditor TheSensibleTurtle asked:

"What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?"

Firm Boundaries

"It came from Reddit, funnily enough."

"'Set limits for what you’re prepared to give, because people who take don’t have limits for how much they’re prepared to take.'"

"I’ve definitely applied it to my life. Unfortunately, there are several people I know who have yet to apply it to theirs."

- RedWestern

Lending Money

"Never lend money you can't afford to ever see again. Also, loan money with the expectation that you're never going to see it again."

- levitatingloser

Closest Company

"The single most important decision you will make in life is your partner."

- bemest

Know What You Want

"If it's not a clear yes, then it's a no."

- hiraeth_99

Not Forever

"Nothing is permanent. Jobs, relationships, good times, and bad times."

"Something I say to myself when making big decisions."

- Real_Bridge_5440

Relationship Goals

"In relationships: It's not you and your significant other against each other. It's both of you against the problem."

- MaxRptz

Time After Time

"A very rich friend of mine told me that he can buy or access almost anything at this stage of his life, except time. Make the most of every moment."

- phalangepatella

Drink Your Water

"Drink water."

"I had a friend's mom down my childhood street that insisted this was the curative agent for all that ailed you. And most of the time, she was not wrong."

"Indigestion? Water. Constipated? One tall glass of water every hour at least. Headache? Water."

"Her kid got the flu and his mom was like, 'I'm not taking him to the doctor. What are they gonna do? Tell him to drink water and eat food? I'm not paying 20 bucks and waiting an hour to hear that."

- elementaryfrequency9

Gossip Goes Both Ways

"People who gossip about others to you, gossip about you to others."

- CommunicationNo5292

Communication Is Key

"You have the right to tell someone how they make you feel."

- RockyMtnOysterCo

Be Prepared

"Never attempt to fix a plumbing problem when the hardware store is closed."

"It was from my dad. I am pretty sure that he learned it the hard way!"

- tg1024

You Are Worth More

"Your job doesn't define you."

- vander_blanc

No Self-Sacrifice

"Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm."

- Phoenix_of_Asclepius

Financial Perspective

"If you can just barely afford a house then you can’t afford it really. Something for new homeowners to bear in mind."

"Have some friends that bought a very expensive house. They used every bit of what they were able to be loaned. They now work just to be able to live in the house. Tried to tell them that if the majority of their income goes to the mortgage, then they can't afford the house."

- Effurlife13

Be Happy

“'Just do the things that make you happy and don’t do the things that don’t make you happy.'"

"From an ex-boyfriend who said this to me years ago. It’s so simple but kind of blew my anxious little self’s mind."

- Dizzy-Worldliness-20

Don't Listen to Them

"'Don’t take criticisms from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.'"

"I suffer from insecurities and have had people make some horrendous comments to me in my life. Someone once told me the above quote and it made something click in my head. From then on, things have been a h**l of a lot better."

- FluffyDaedra

While some of these tips appear resoundingly simple, they could be a real life-changer if put into practice.

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.

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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