Advice is all around us. Whether it’s sought out or unprovoked, we are surrounded by the opinions and wisdom of others daily. Regardless of whether it is helpful or harmful, I find people’s personal philosophies and opinions incredibly interesting, which is why I did an experiment this week. I asked everyone I ran into (friends, family, and random people I met out and about) to tell me either the best piece of advice they’ve ever received or what the best advice they would give to someone else would be. Below are a few that stood out to me:
- “Always tell the truth, no matter the outcome.”
- “Be grateful for the problems you have.”
- “Enough.”
- “You get what you give.”
- “PVO: Positive Vibes Only”
- “Say yes to everything.”
- “High highs and low lows keep you balanced.”
- “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
- “It’s never really that deep.”
- “Listen to your gut; your instincts are never wrong.”
- “Measure twice, cut once.”
- “This too shall pass.”
- “Find people who value you.”
I was surprised by the variation within the quotes. Some were vague, some were silly, and some were deep. While these phrases are all different, the commonality they share is the beauty behind their significance. To all of the people I spoke to, these words meant something special to them. Whether it was an old saying from a loved one, a line from a book, or a joke, these quotes were powerful enough to be remembered and carried through life.
I also noticed that almost every person I asked put a lot of thought into their answer. A few got nervous and asked for more time to think of something, whereas others would laugh and tell me immediately. Even though everyone’s answers were drastically different, they all came straight from the heart and said a lot about the people themselves.
I really enjoyed doing this. By asking this question to my close friends, family members, acquaintances, and even strangers, I was lucky enough to get to know everyone on a deeper level. To be able to briefly step into the different mindsets of so many people really broadened my horizons and reminded me of what unique, special lives we all live. Everybody’s journey is different, but we can still learn a lot by trying to understand the experiences of those around us.