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scrapchyck

scrapchyck

I scraplift, therefore I am
Pollywog
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Jan 2, 2023
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As we start this new year and look back on seasons of our lives, I'm wondering if any of you think about advice you've been given over the years, and how well it did or didn't play out. Can you think of the best piece of advice you've ever received? If yes, how did it shape you?

I think the best advice I ever received was to remember, when you feel wronged or betrayed or overlooked, that people don't do things TO you, they do things FOR themselves. That advice was given to me by a friend I met in the digital scrapbooking community, someone who rallied around me during my divorce, Beth Cain. I wonder if any of you remember her. Beth passed away in 2010, but that simple phrase helped me learn to forgive, and I'll never forget it. I love that her family has kept her Facebook page active. People share the sweetest memories there.
 
Becky, thank you for sharing what you have as it really spoke to me with something I am going through. Perfect timing! :bk

Something I try to remember that I learnt some years ago in a bible Study is " Make sure you look at the facts and not your feelings".
 
I recall being told to judge people's actions by their motives and apply grace the way I would like it applied. It's rare that people have malicious intent in their hearts. But misunderstanding is easily the biggest problem in communication. That and being careful of what you say. Our words carry power. Don't say it if you don't mean it, or want it to happen.
 
Hmmm... the first thing that came to mind was something someone at church told me several decades ago. I grew up in one church, then went to college and then joined a different church after college. When I joined the new church I took a class called spiritual gifts and the leader basically said that it's okay to say no to things that aren't in your skillset. My Mom volunteered when we were kids, but she did things she didn't like and always complained about it and it made me feel wary of volunteering. After hearing that it was better to do things that you like and haves skills for and that if you don't, it's actually okay to say no. That was huge for me!
 
When I got married my favorite aunt gave me this advice: do something every day that won’t be undone. That has always stuck with me. It reminds me to do more than just the mundane tasks.
 
When I was first eligible to put money into a 401K at my employer, my parents told me to do it even if it was only $5 per paycheck. Then when I left that job, they encouraged me to set up a mutual fund with a financial advisor and roll that 401K into the mutual fund.

I followed both pieces of advice all throughout my working life. Yes, the amount contributed throughout the years increased but by following their advice, I was set up to have a decent retirement even before any inheritance from them.
 
"A place for everything & everything in its place" a quote/piece of advice from my grandmother comes to mind every time I lose or misplace something because I haven't put it in the correct place. Not heeding that advice has cost me at least $100 while I have replaced my birth certificate multiple times over the last ten years.
 
HavaDrPepper said:
When I was first eligible to put money into a 401K at my employer, my parents told me to do it even if it was only $5 per paycheck.
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I've done something similar with our government run retirement fund/first home deposit scheme. While I'm not working I'm contributing voluntarily to the scheme and have about $13k in there so far which will go most likely all towards retirement for me (I'm eventually coming into $$$ assigned for my first home.....when, I'm not quite sure as there's still things to figure out)
 
Love those that love you.

This advice was given when I had expectations of family. Albeit it was the family that adopted me. When I set back and pondered that, I realized that subconsciously I applied that. Most of my family is comprised of people who are not blood related to me at all. They are my chosen family, while some chose to boot themselves off that island...... :giggle I have to say, my 'chosen' family are those that truly love me.
 
I have lots I've been given over the years that have served me well, but the one I probably use most often is "Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere". I've learned to be really good at not worrying about stuff, so I tend to pass that one out more these days.

And also this one that I saw online somewhere, "If someone doesn't have your phone number, then they aren't important enough to have an opinion about you" I tell myself that one daily when someone at work starts to annoy me :lol
 
A-M said:
Becky, thank you for sharing what you have as it really spoke to me with something I am going through. Perfect timing! :bk

Something I try to remember that I learnt some years ago in a bible Study is " Make sure you look at the facts and not your feelings".
Click to expand...
Feelings can lie! Thanks for sharing this wisdom!
 
StefanieS said:
I recall being told to judge people's actions by their motives and apply grace the way I would like it applied. It's rare that people have malicious intent in their hearts. But misunderstanding is easily the biggest problem in communication. That and being careful of what you say. Our words carry power. Don't say it if you don't mean it, or want it to happen.
Click to expand...
So hard to do! We trip over our words and hurt people without even realizing it! Thanks for sharing!
 
Angela Toucan said:
On our wedding day my God parents told us to "Do something fun or that makes you laugh every day," Very good advice.
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I love that! Especially for a married couple...in those seasons when you're heads-down raising kids, working and all, it's hard to keep things light. Good advice!
 
Karen said:
Hmmm... the first thing that came to mind was something someone at church told me several decades ago. I grew up in one church, then went to college and then joined a different church after college. When I joined the new church I took a class called spiritual gifts and the leader basically said that it's okay to say no to things that aren't in your skillset. My Mom volunteered when we were kids, but she did things she didn't like and always complained about it and it made me feel wary of volunteering. After hearing that it was better to do things that you like and haves skills for and that if you don't, it's actually okay to say no. That was huge for me!
Click to expand...
Oh, boy! This comes to me on the day I agreed to yet another thing at work...a volunteer role that I did NOT want, but everyone says I'm so good at! LOL I know it's in my spiritual gifts wheelhouse, but time-wise feeling stretched. Oh, well. Grace will make it do-able.
 
umyesh said:
When I got married my favorite aunt gave me this advice: do something every day that won’t be undone. That has always stuck with me. It reminds me to do more than just the mundane tasks.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...that's interesting. I'll have to ponder that. Reminds me of the scripture storing up treasures in Heaven...
 
HavaDrPepper said:
When I was first eligible to put money into a 401K at my employer, my parents told me to do it even if it was only $5 per paycheck. Then when I left that job, they encouraged me to set up a mutual fund with a financial advisor and roll that 401K into the mutual fund.

I followed both pieces of advice all throughout my working life. Yes, the amount contributed throughout the years increased but by following their advice, I was set up to have a decent retirement even before any inheritance from them.
Click to expand...
As someone who now works for a financial advisor, I can't agree with this advice more! SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! Especially if your employer matches in some way!
 
littlekiwi said:
"A place for everything & everything in its place" a quote/piece of advice from my grandmother comes to mind every time I lose or misplace something because I haven't put it in the correct place. Not heeding that advice has cost me at least $100 while I have replaced my birth certificate multiple times over the last ten years.
Click to expand...
This is a keeper! One I use as well!
 
Esther Wisdom said:
Love those that love you.

This advice was given when I had expectations of family. Albeit it was the family that adopted me. When I set back and pondered that, I realized that subconsciously I applied that. Most of my family is comprised of people who are not blood related to me at all. They are my chosen family, while some chose to boot themselves off that island...... :giggle I have to say, my 'chosen' family are those that truly love me.
Click to expand...
That is priceless advice! I need that cross-stitched on a pillow. Need to treat my people better.
 
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