A few weeks ago, I asked you all to write in with your best advice. I believe our best gift to each other is to impart our wisdom and to learn from each other. That is how we grow and help the next generation move forward and prosper.
We never know which advice will be taken, or which will strike a chord and mean something to someone. All we can do is put it out into the world and hope it is meaningful for others, as it is to us.
Ed wrote, “Forgive everybody everything. Include yourself.” I think a lot of us need to hear this and follow it. This can apply to simple things like worrying we said the wrong thing to bigger life choices. Forgiving others and yourself allows you to move forward. It keeps us from being held back and stuck feeling past negative emotions.
Ed also wrote, “What is, is. I cannot change that, so I must accept it. Acceptance is the key to a good life. I can plan for the future, but I can’t live there. So, enjoy today.” This is a tough one for many of us, yet so important. Being in the moment and letting go of things outside of our control is a great philosophy to live by.
Keli wrote about marriage and shared, “Just because it’s not important to you doesn’t mean it’s not important.” I think this advice can help not only in marriage but in friendships. We need to listen to each other more and respect what is important to the people we care about.
Vicky shared her best advice is something that came from a Thomas Jefferson quote. He wrote about not buying things just because they are cheap and how buying inexpensive things you do not need will lead to regret. In today’s world of consumerism and sales flooding our emails and social media feeds, this is great advice. It is easy to get carried away by a good deal and lose sight of what we really need.
I also heard advice about starting to save for retirement early and not wasting money on things that will not last. I am sure plenty of us wish we could go back in time and put money away. This is why it is so helpful to share this advice with younger people.
Robbin wrote how she learned from her father’s example to be friendly and outgoing to people. She shared how this has made for some wonderful interactions with people, including how she started up a conversation in a doctor’s waiting room. She asked the others to chat while they were waiting, and it ended up with a lot of laughter as if they were old friends. The doctor even heard about it and thanked her because it helped the patients be in a better mood when they finally got to see him.
Reading everyone’s advice and wisdom is a way to hear other people’s perspectives. Especially on what they find most important.
Continue to send in your best advice to mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org. As I gather more, I will share them so that as a community we can learn from each other.
The truth is that most of the time we come up with advice only after we have experienced misfortune. It’s an opportunity to learn from it and find what works best in our life. Sharing with others is a great way to use your experiences in a positive way.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
