I was thinking today of my Dad. He left this world over twenty years ago, and even though our time together was short he has been a major influence on my life. He was kind, caring, thoughtful, and above all wise. If I were to think of one piece of advice he left me it was,
‘Never put yourself in the wrong’.
As a hot headed teenager and young twenty year old, I think on many occasions he saw me falling short on this particular piece of advice. However over time I have learned the value of it. It has allowed me to step back from the brink a few times, and to ensure that in the long run, I could leave an argument or disagreement with my head held high.
My eldest is older than I was when Dad died and I wondered what nuggets of inspiration would she remember if in fact something happened to me?
As a small child I advised her not to run too fast, in case she fell… well that was not the most amazing piece of advice. Neither was ‘Be careful’ while climbing in the playground, or ‘Don’t stare’.
As she got older my advice was better, but now she wasn’t listening. ‘I’m not sure about that friend of yours’, You’re pretty enough without all that make up on you, or perhaps most unappreciated of all, ‘That skirt is way too small, the more flesh you show the more power you give away’.
Now my daughter is an adult I am struggling to think of any nugget she might proudly one day attest to, as having come from me. Maybe I’m example enough of wisdom!
However a few months ago I received another piece of advice. A piece of advice which I have found to be of help each and every day. I definitely credit it as being the best advice I have ever received.
It came from a good friend of mine, Daniels mom. She turned to me one morning while we were on our usual walk and said,
‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’.
She said this with both regret and conviction. Knowing that she had recently kissed her young son goodbye forever her words pierced me. She spoke them softly but they continued to echo within me throughout the day, getting louder and louder. ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’.
I thought of all the things I fret over. Small every day worries. Worries about my family, my mother. Things I should do, things I did do. Words I spoke and ones left unspoken. School and homework, money and work. And I heard the echo, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’.
Since that day, as the house becomes untidy, the laundry is out of control, the dinner is not as I imagined, the diners are late, the kids are cranky, my husband is….(fill in your own description), and I feel myself about to blow.
I take a deep breath, look at young Daniels smiling face on my dresser….and I don’t sweat the small stuff.
photo credit: Major Clanger via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
…always remember her name in the morning.
Lmao. Brilliant advice which I do hope you have always remembered to heed! 🙂
I always did….the do unto others stuff, etc. is a given…and so is all the other cliche stuff, but, the best advice is always the obscure stuff, the always keep your powder dry, sort of stuff….
such good advice and it puts everything into perspective when things seem challenging
Thanks Beth, it’s working so far anyway.
Don’t make big decisions when you are upset or your mind is not in the right place.
Ah that’s a good one. It’s not always easy to keep though.
Very true. It can be difficult.
The other part of that quote is that it’s ALL small stuff.
Oh yes Jackie. How true is that.
Nugget of wisdom from my nanny : always make sure you have some run away money 😉
Ha I love it. I had a friend and she always carried €5 in her shoe just for that purpose. 🙂
So true, that there are so many wasted energies and moments on things that don’t matter. If only we would remember that at all times. I think the older I get the more secure I become in realizing that small stuff really is a thief of moments.
i love that, ‘the thief of moments’. How true.
I like that advice about not sweating the small stuff.
The best advice I was given was from my grandma. She told me to always wear decent underwear…one never knows when they’ll be in an accident and have to go to the hospital.
Fifty years later, I finally understood what she meant when I ended up in the emergency room, only to be admitted to the hospital. My underwear was clean, but because I purchased them on sale, and I don’t care what my underwear looks like, I’m sure the design gave the nurses a little chuckle.
Oh no, I can only imagine!
Similar to don’t sweat the small stuff in a way but I always like ‘tomorrow is another day’ 🙂
Yes that’s a good one Lorna. Helps keep things in perspective unless when you hear it you feel like shouting ‘Oh no!’. 🙂
Therapy is expensive, but bubble wrap is cheap. You choose.
I’ve not heard of that one before. Good one.
Bubble wrap heals all wounds.
This is lovely, and one that I think comes with practise. An empty laundry basket is a life half lived 🙂