R&Sers what is the one thing a parent or grandparent has said to you that's helped you in life?

Question

For me, my mother said, "Life is too short to be miserable."
How about you?

Answer 1

My mom has responded on many occasions, when asked what she was planning on doing when she 'grows up'..."Who says I have to grow up!?!"

I take that to heart...never feel like you have to grow up! It's the secret to staying young your whole life!

BTW: My mom turned 80 this year...she told me on her Bday that she didn't feel her age...she still feels like she did when she was much younger. Hmmm, quite a lesson, huh?

Answer 2

My Dad wasn't around, and my Mom did the best she could. Just the other day, she was having a rough time, trying to start her life over at 44. She was very self-depricating. But she did say that she has only done 1 good thing in her life, and only has one true pure joy... me. That was awesome to hear. She was never good at being a mom but she was good at being a great friend. She told me other things. Like "If we were put here to learn and to grow, why do we punish ourselves so hard for our mistakes, we were supposed to make them, how else can we learn" and "No one is going to make your life the way you want it. If you live for others, you will never be happy, because they can't know what you want. If you live for yourself, you can still help others, because you are already happy, and your smile can light up anyone's dark day".
My grandmother likes to say not so nice things "If I had a body like yours, I would try to cover more of it, why do you wear such skimpy clothes, with arms that big, you shouldn't wear tank tops, Do you dress like that to get the attention of men, why do you want men's attention to be on your body, aren't you smart enought o have them like you". This is all being said IN Balboa Park, at the top of her lungs, in front of everyone. Oh, and I am in jeans and a tank top on a hot summer day. And I might have an extra 15 pounds on me, but I am by no means fat.
So if you put the 2 people together, I have a nice balance of good and evil in my life. :-)

Answer 3

i only knew one grandparent that disliked me greatly her only words of wisdom was when i got pregnant the first time was i should have kept my legs shut...as far as a parent my dad and i have not spoken in 17 years and my mother is the only person who i rely on..the one thing that sticks inmy head is live to the fullest one day you are going to wake up and be 60 years old with regrets..time goes by fast

Answer 4

Oh, I can think of lots of things, but my parents are very invalidating, so it's nothing nice. My dad keeps telling me I'm pretty much wasting my time going back to college because "it's not gonna pay my bills." And that's the nicest thing I can think of that he's said to me.

But, in the end, I will have the last laugh.

Answer 5

My father said to me that people are your friends so long as you have something they want. The more you have the more friends you'll have.

I have found this to be mostly true. Not in all cases, but mostly.

Oh and my Puerto Rican grandmother said (think of this being said in a thick spanish accent) "stay away from sluts."

Answer 6

My Mother always said--"Go find something to do!" and she was so right...also, 'Quit moping around and look on the bright side!"

My Dad said, after I left my first husband---"If you think things will be hard all alone just think of how hard they would be if you stayed with Henry!" There was never truer words spoken...

Answer 7

Whatever I learned, was from my grandmother. She brought me up cos my parents are always busy even until this very day...

I lived with her in the house where I called it home...but she died together with the house that was demolised after....I missed her terribily and the only house I would called home had gone...

She gives me alot of wonderful advises and with that I live my life.....and now though I am very successful in life, she is not there to share it with me.....

~"Do whatever you think is right....."~

If you noticed, its not "feel" its "think", so there think what I just said...

Answer 8

My Grandmother knelt every night to pray although she had crippling arthritis. She believed in God and lived her life accordingly.
It wasn't just one thing she said. It was a very humble life well lived as an example to me that shone like gold.

And my dad took me to church and put me in a religious school.

Answer 9

My dad always said expect the worst out of every situation that way when the best happens you can be truely grateful/happy.

Answer 10

My Grandfather was dying of cancer and he had me sitting in his lap (I was 23) and I was also suffering/dying from a 11 year battle with bulimia. He said 'We're going to do this together. We're going to be well together'. It was plain and simple. He died a few months after and I'm still here but I believe he is too.
Namaste (((((((Kallan)))))))))