Wear Sunscreen
Everyone knows they should wear sunscreen. Even me. And yet yesterday, for no good reason, I sat outside for over an hour in the sun, slowly turning into the pictures you see here. I am so disappointed in myself. I am also in a lot of pain, so please don't touch my arms. Or face. Or the spot on my chest.
Tonight, as I slathered on yet another layer of aloe vera, I was thinking about all the advice we get but don't listen to. Most of the time, I do wear sunscreen. Here's some of the other good advice I've gotten over the years, along with random things I think everyone should know:
Trust people
Trust your own intuition (especially if it tells you to go home to put on sunscreen!)
Learn to accept a compliment gracefully (smile and say thank you)
Say please and thank you
Hold your head up
Look people in the eyes
Listen more than you talk
You belong anywhere you want to be
Try it; you might like it
The white lights on the back of the car mean it's going to back up
Accept invitations
Be open to accepting advice
Learn when people are not ready to listen to your advice
Learn to give constructive critisism
Learn to drive
Learn to parallel park
Walk on the right, pass on the left
Leave more space
Your pants should probably be longer, unless you're a guy and your underwear shows
Your underwear shouldn't show
Don't put anything about other people in writing
Put everything about money and business in writing
Don't sign anything without reading it
Always feel free to say you need more time
If you're wondering if you need a lawyer, you probably should have one
Learn to dance
Tip well, especially at places you want to frequent on a regular basis
Take the time to give compliments
Apologize if you were wrong
Brush your teeth. Every day
Keep your baby blanket
Know what makes you feel good when you're feeling bad
Make your bed - it goes a hell of a long way towards making your bedroom look neat
Don't be late
Call if you're going to be late
Don't get in a car accident because you were speeding to get there on time
Pay for the extra insurance
Rent a convertible at least once
Know basic first aid
Think before you speak
Throw out the garbage before you go on vacation
Buy a shredder (and use it)
When you go on a date, always bring money
Hold the door for the person behind you
Make your guests comfortable in your home
Only offer what you're truly happy to share
Buy flowers
Most people say yes when you ask if you can pet their dog, so ask
Don't make fun of people for what they like
Send a sympathy card
If someone offers you a mint, take it
Don't ask someone why they don't drink when you're drinking
Call your grandparents
Give a bamboo as a house-warming present - they're very hard to kill
Don't tell your kids to "Get a life" - they're doing the best they can, and you're insulting them horribly by saying that
Know who you can trust for which situations
In fancy restaurants, they serve "ladies first"
Read more
Learn to sew a button
Don't cry at work
If you screw up at work, apologize immediately, say how you're going to fix it, go fix it, and never bring up your mistake again
Take notes
Get more sleep
Lock the door (home and car)
Make sure your keys are in your hand BEFORE you get out of your car
Make sure you've turned off your headlights
Keep a towel and an extra pair of shoes in your trunk
When you're not sure what to wear, err on the side of too dressy
When writing an e-mail, the e-mail address should be the LAST thing you type before hitting "Send"
Let Spellcheck be your friend
Listen to more music
Don't live above your means
Don't put stamps on good furniture (that train stamp NEVER came off my desk chair)
Don't play ball in the house (sorry about that light in the upstairs hallway, Mom)
Don't let people treat you like shit
Think about whether winning the fight is worth losing the relationship
Look where you're going
Don't run with a lollipop in your mouth
Wash your hands ... with soap
When in doubt, never mind Jesus - think of what Brandon Walsh would have done
Don't put your hands into places you can't see (the mountain)
Learn to write sentences that don't end with prepositions
For the most part, you don't owe anyone an explanation except yourself
What's the best/funniest/most useful advice you ever got?
posted by Green at 5/06/2007 09:24:00 PM
9 Comments:
best advice-- breathe (candice)
worst advice-- no, i'm sure if you don't pay a parking ticket they won't follow up on it (old boss at coyote)
funniest advice-- hit them like they beat your mother with a 4x4 (given to me by my 94 year old grandmother before a rugby game)
If you'd be embarrassed to say it in front of your grandmother, you're probably better off not saying it.
Don't swear too much because the more you use cuss words, the less powerful they become for when you really mean them.
Smile. It's free and requires little effort, but is very valuable.
Always be nice to the "little" people - waiters, secretaries, assistants, security guards, doormen, hair stylists. They are likely to have information you want, from general good-to-know stuff to juicy gossip, and have the power to save your ass if they like you or screw you over royally if you're an ass to them.
Breathe is ALWAYS #1,
#2- Don't believe everything you think
When you're going to talk about private stuff or other people, have the conversation in private, and close the door. Never have conversations like this in a public restroom, elevator, or anywhere else where people can enter suddenly.
Don't immediately take things personally. It is entirely possible that the other person has things on her mind, is having a bad day, etc.
Don't impulse buy.
"Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer." (Hey, it's good advice!)
-- Always check your back seat before getting into the car.
-- Learn to change a tire (I still haven't. I have Roadside Assistance, for pete's sake.)
-- Learn to drive a standard. You might need it someday.
-- Don't go to bed angry.
-- Be able to sleep with your conscience each night.
-- You'll kill more flies with honey than vinegar. (Oh, and how I have...)
Great post, but sorry about the sunburn.
Allow the other person a way to save face.
If you have something positive to say about someone,feel free to say it in front of others.
If you must say something negative to or about someone,say it so only he can hear your words.
Tell someone what it is you want them to do instead of criticizing
what was he has already done.
It takes a minimum of five "attaboys" to counteract the feelings resulting from one personal criticism.
Decide if the battle (subject or person) is worth your time or energy....Consiously decide if the war is worth entering at all.
Ask yourself if it is more important for you to be right or for you to be happy.
Decide if you really want to eat that ...before it goes in your mouth!
you have the right to change your mind / decision. Plans are only guidelines you create for yourself so they are yours to change.
Listen to yourself. You are smarter / wiser than you know. Most of the time you know yourself better than anyone else knows you. At very least, you know yourself longer and more intimately.
Keep trying to be someone you like and admire.
This,too, shall pass.
Keep on learning!
Another favorite
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you already have
I loved your comment over at Greek Tragedy, so came over to check out your blog. Great advice here; I really agree w/ a lot of your points. The best advice I ever got was to try new things. I did and I met my fiance... and now love eggplant! :)
"the world belongs to men of action" - given to me unsolicited by a very drunk man in a bar in albany, ny, as he staggered off his stool and made eye contact with me for no reason as i waited to play a videogame.
it was insightful enough - and spooky - enough to change my life.
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