Like most boys, I was fond of playing war. The narrative of my play was the typical "good guy/bad guy" battles and - this being the 70's and 80's - Vietnam was usually the setting. My father interruped me and my friends and some point in our play and said something that has remained with me and driven my philosophy of life ever since. My father, a veteran of Vietnam stopped me, put his hand on my plastic gun, knelt to my level, looked me eye-to-eye and said, "There are no good guys or bad guys."

The advice: Throw the Iron in the Sink!
This came from a couple my husband and I knew when we were first married whom we considered our "Marriage Mentors". Katy used to tell me "Always be ready to throw the iron in the sink and go!" When I asked her what that meant she said that both of them were always ready to drop mundane work around the house if the other came up with something intersting to do. (The iron in the sink was a safe way of cooling it down so she could take off and enjoy her husband.) For nearly 40 years my husband and I have followed this and have had some great times. The work will always get done sooner or later....and most of it isn't critical anyway. But enjoying time with your spouse if Very important. Katy and Monty have both been gone a long time, but the "iron in the sink" advice lives on!

i did not value my grandmother's advise until after she passed nearly 5 years ago...none of us did. she mostly gave her 8 grandchildren advise on professions and fashion.

something she had been advocating for years was for women to wear v-necks shirts because they look nicer. i have to say after years of hearing this and laughing that she was 100% correct.

try it, you'll love the way you look!

Life comes in waves. As you age you learn not to take the highs and lows so seriously. When you are at the bottom of a wave, you will soon rise again only to surf down to the bottom one more time. The better you get at this, the easier the waves are to ride.

Surf Life

From some elder in my boyfriend's family (this is 3rd or 4th hand, so not sure who): "If they gotta say 'it tastes as good as butter,' it doesn't taste as good as butter."

my 102 grandfather wrote to me once- don't ever make decisions based on the promises of others.

there is the quaker saying my favorite- the way will open

From my mother: Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which gets full first

From my father: When you are being chased by bandits and the horse drops dead, jump off and run like hell.

From my own mantra when ever anyone asks me how I'm doing: Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, a song in my heart, a smile on my face, a kind word for one and all, and looking forward to a bright new day full of promise and possibilities.

There was a time when I meant it as sarcasm, but over time, after having said it over and over, it became true.

When I was in my twenties and getting over the break-up of a serious relationship my grandmother said, in her heavy Jewish accent "I don't understand, you're so smart and wonderful and beautiful. You could wear a little lipstick, it wouldn't hurt". She was right. I still wear a little lipstick. Bubby is now 102 years old.
The best advice my mother ever gave me when I was young and fretting was "You are just not that important." That advice always helps me keep things in perspective.

My grandmother told me to, “Experience life.” It’s been the best advice I’ve ever gotten.