Elders

[jerubal]

Well hello there young John-Jake-Jack-Billy-Bob-Harold-Mary... my you're getting to be a big one! Why, I remember when you were only yay-high...

Now you come sit and be good, 'cause us old folks, well we ain't as checked-out as we look'n'sound. Here's a little advice...

Don't take yourself too seriously. Pretensions are what being young is all about; clamouring for respect in a world you're told to look up to... but there might come a time when the words "you're only flesh and blood" come to have a profound meaning to you, and it doesn't do any good to be overly concerned about yourself.

Usually, when things seem figured out, they change the rules. So don't go getting too settled on an idea or a habit, since tomorrow it could be gone completely, good or bad.

Come on forum old folks, it's time we showed these young whippity snap dog doodles that it's not all about the strength in your knees!

I'm twenty-seven next month, and I'm sure there are older and wiser dogs posting here than me. Mainly I think so because I ain't all too wise. Anywhoo, what with our wide age-range'n'all, I figure there's some general rules you've picked up along your way that the little'uns could use.
Heck, advice is learned for sharin'!
Not that they'll listen, or understand the importance of it... *grumbles something incomprehensible, letting his ear trumpet hand fall into his lap*

ZZZzzzZZzz

[LataKali]

What have I learned over the years... good question. hmm...

First off, I've learned to be surprised. I have been taken apart and put back together, and I tick like a totally different clock these days. I also seem to have lost some of the pieces along the way, but that's where adaptability comes into play. It's amazing how much one is capable of handling over time. The truth is, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. We're given tastes of the light everyday but if we spend our whole life chasing it waiting for the happily ever after, it will hardly be noticed. As I see it, life is a long and winding road which I prefer to happily skip down and enjoy the scenery along the way.

In other words, just relax and enjoy the ride. The majority of what we worry and stress over is unfounded.

Also, milk thistle is helpful for hangovers, bird shit will corrode the paint on your car, you can break a window with an oyster shell, and if you ever fracture your ankle, for christ sake, leave the damn cast on.

[Tenacious P]

In other words, just relax and enjoy the ride. The majority of what we worry and stress over is unfounded.
Word. That's probably the best single piece of advice there is.

[sheeP]

I was gonna quote that you son of a bitch.

[Electric Banana]

Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things.
(lolz)

[Poofy]

Huh?

[Electric Banana]

That's my advice...

[Jarrid]

What advice will I tell my children/grandchildren?

"Have fun with living a really long fucking time, kids."

[Atlas]

Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things.
(lolz)

That's awesome.

[Devil King]

What have I learned over the years... good question. hmm...

First off, I've learned to be surprised. I have been taken apart and put back together, and I tick like a totally different clock these days. I also seem to have lost some of the pieces along the way, but that's where adaptability comes into play. It's amazing how much one is capable of handling over time. The truth is, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. We're given tastes of the light everyday but if we spend our whole life chasing it waiting for the happily ever after, it will hardly be noticed. As I see it, life is a long and winding road which I prefer to happily skip down and enjoy the scenery along the way.

In other words, just relax and enjoy the ride. The majority of what we worry and stress over is unfounded.

Also, milk thistle is helpful for hangovers, bird shit will corrode the paint on your car, you can break a window with an oyster shell, and if you ever fracture your ankle, for christ sake, leave the damn cast on.

Damn, that was a great fucking post.

I love it, and agree with every bit of it.

[twerp]

I'll tell ya what I've learned. We are not all created equal. Those with the means, ability, and the will need to seize their opportunities because someone less qualified will take your place.

[Polygon]

Shit, I could go on all day, but Lata gave some of the best advice you'll ever hear. Just remember that 10% of you life is made up of things that actually happen to you. The other 90% is how you react. That leads in to something I learned not too long ago, enjoy life, because you might not be around tomorrow.

And another thing, if you have a chronic disease go see a damn doctor on a regular basis!

[Sushi_b]

I guess I have a few to add in since I'm a little long in the tooth. Without being too cliche'

One of the best I always think of is...You can't please everyone, but if you can please 80% of the people you meet you're doing a good job.

We all know the life is tough...blah blah blah. Shape up, dig in and face it head on. You either go hard or don't go at all.

[jerubal]

You either go hard or don't go at all.Amen. Pull your damn self together and bust a move.

[Inari]

This is kind of ridiculous. If you're under 30 you probably haven't had any philosophical revelations that someone 17 didn't already have after watching The Matrix for the first time. Past 30 you may or may not have developed some practical advice about how to get grease rings out of your collar or developing an investment portfolio.

But 20-29 is that magical phase in life where you think you've got everything all figured out. And then you turn 30 and I imagine you sort of freak out when you realize you haven't accomplished anything and you don't know what a 401k is or why you're still driving a beat up Honda Civic. And you realize that everything can't be summed up in neat little platitudes, and you actually have to "play by the rules" to fly remotely close to the standards of material comfort.

Here's some actual advice from a 25 year old to everyone < 25 years old. Go to school if you're so inclined. If not, get a job. Start a business. Find your special Mr./Mrs. Moneybags. Do something. We can't all be doctors and lawyers, you know. We need welders and sanitation engineers too.

[Devil King]

This is kind of ridiculous. If you're under 30 you probably haven't had any philosophical revelations that someone 17 didn't already have after watching The Matrix for the first time. Past 30 you may or may not have developed some practical advice about how to get grease rings out of your collar or developing an investment portfolio.

But 20-29 is that magical phase in life where you think you've got everything all figured out. And then you turn 30 and I imagine you sort of freak out when you realize you haven't accomplished anything and you don't know what a 401k is or why you're still driving a beat up Honda Civic. And you realize that everything can't be summed up in neat little platitudes, and you actually have to "play by the rules" to fly remotely close to the standards of material comfort.

Here's some actual advice from a 25 year old to everyone < 25 years old. Go to school if you're so inclined. If not, get a job. Start a business. Find your special Mr./Mrs. Moneybags. Do something. We can't all be doctors and lawyers, you know. We need welders and sanitation engineers too.

I have to disagree with the bulk of your post.

Mostly anyone with some semblance of an intellect can give great advice and tips concerning life and how to deal, even if they still are a bit young. Different people go through different shit, no matter the age, and can develop a certain mentality to cope through similar problems that will no doubt help others going through crap in their lives. Hell, I know some individuals that are barely in college that help me out on a daily basis. It's not ridiculous at all.

I doubt many 20-29 years olds even think they have it all figured out. I know I don't, which is why advice from anyone is ideal.

[LataKali]

This is kind of ridiculous. If you're under 30 you probably haven't had any philosophical revelations that someone 17 didn't already have after watching The Matrix for the first time. Past 30 you may or may not have developed some practical advice about how to get grease rings out of your collar or developing an investment portfolio.

But 20-29 is that magical phase in life where you think you've got everything all figured out. And then you turn 30 and I imagine you sort of freak out when you realize you haven't accomplished anything and you don't know what a 401k is or why you're still driving a beat up Honda Civic. And you realize that everything can't be summed up in neat little platitudes, and you actually have to "play by the rules" to fly remotely close to the standards of material comfort.

Here's some actual advice from a 25 year old to everyone < 25 years old. Go to school if you're so inclined. If not, get a job. Start a business. Find your special Mr./Mrs. Moneybags. Do something. We can't all be doctors and lawyers, you know. We need welders and sanitation engineers too.


On the contrary, while some of what you say is true, I don't think "philosophical revelations" are necessarily based on age. Experience teaches a lot; trials, tribulations, accomplishments and failures take place throughout your entire lifetime, not just when you hit 30, or any other age for that matter.

For instance, at 26, I have been married, divorced, had a child, a 3 bedroom/2 bath in the suburbs, brand new cars, office management positions and at one point, was independently financially successful. Then one day I realized, *that* is not all life is about. It seems to be what everyone strives towards and offers some form of tangible proof that you are wise, successful, have a good head on your shoulders, etc, etc. But at the end of the day, are you happy? I wasn't. Therefore triggering what you refer to as a "philosophical revelation" and subsequent reevaluation of my life up until that point. I'm not saying I have everything figured out; hell, I don't think, at any age, we ever have it all figured out. The key is finding out what works for you now and learning from your mistakes along the way. Life is an ongoing lesson and adventure and everyone lives it their own way.

[jerubal]

I doubt many 20-29 years olds even think they have it all figured out. I know I don't, which is why advice from anyone is ideal.
Pretty much my hope. Having somewhere between little and no idea, I figure trading advice and learnings like for like can't be a bad idea. General 'stuff'.

EDIT: Also, Inari had some fair advice in amongst the unnecessary condescension. Your input is valued. ^_^

[Inari]

Fair enough. I'm not particularly keen on kicking up an argument in a thread meant to inspire people. But I vomit in my mouth a little every time someone says something meaningless like "enjoy life and don't worry" with self-satisfaction. I pity the sod that doesn't already inherently know to do this (although I understand the human neuroses that often prevent us from following it).

My point was that people generally stray away from this tenet as they get older. The occasional 90 year old zen-like sage in the throes of senility aside, it seems to me that the older you get, the more you get caught up in the minutae of life. It's like we're all born with a tiny seed of a gene for compulsion, and as we age it blooms into a wonderful bouqet of preoccupation and complaint.

Anyway as I get older I do appreciate hearing about little tricks on making life easier. Like how to clean burnt-on grease off of a frying pan (vinegar and cream of tartar paste). I don't know if it's just because age has gotten its icy grip on me or what, but these days I appreciate my parents telling me to eat my vegetables because goddamnit they were right. Vegetables really are good for you. Also, To get grease rings out of your collar: pre-treat with Shout gel, let it marinate overnight if you can, soak in cold water if you time before throwing it in the wash.

And just so I don't look like a jerk, here's something vague and inspirational. The biggest hurdle of your young life is going to be figuring out what it means to be independent. It's also incredibly fulfilling. There's no hard line of demarcation between when you're a kid and when you're a "grown up". But if nothing else, learning self-accountability makes you feel like an adult. Things you want, you have to get. No one else will get it for you. Not your parents. Not your friends. Things you need, you have to get. You can't put it off until someone else does it. It sounds basic until you get there--and when you do get there it opens your eyes up to all the things that you never knew you had to do. And all the things you can do.

When I fully broke away from financial dependence, and even stepped back from dependence on my friends, I weighed all of my responsibilities. One of the things that I realized was that I have a heavy responsibility to myself--my physical health, my mental health, my comfort. When you're in the stage of life where you break away from your family and you don't have a family of your own yet--your primary responsibility is to yourself. Everything you do is to take care of yourself. And maybe I'm alone in this but I think it's a very important stage that a lot of people skip over. They never break away from their family, or they get really dependant on their friends or relationships. Or start a family of their own too soon.

At that stage in life, take the time to work on yourself. Learn how to live on your own, take pride in your work, and be a better person.

[jerubal]

Oh, I have another: Don't assume everyone is like you, but don't think less of them for it (or more or less of yourself).

Personally, I do okay with the little things. I work out the easiest or best ways to go about things pretty quickly.. always have. People tend to think I know a lot more than I do because I think on the fly so well... but the bigger things slip... the immovable stuff other people never think about... a problem that's been on my mind for a whole day... a week.. a month.. six.. a year, or two... I don't have many of those, and I don't like them.

The solution, of course, is simply not to solve it... but it takes constant reminders, and continual distraction, and a group of good friends and family to teach me a lesson every day that everyone else seems to have had sorted since childhood.

Consider me what you will (you likely will anyway), and feel free to give tips on getting burned mess off of baking dishes (I prefer baking soda, but I guess the vinegar is essential :)), I don't need that, personally, but your condescension serves no purpose other than to prove the make-up of your mind.

EDIT: Just to avoid ambiguity, this isn't a response to the bulk 'meat & taters' advisory in your post. For the most part that's good shizz... although a tad on the loner side. I do rely on my friends and family, and by making them my primary concern, I make far greater headway than in the days I died only for myself. Self is just connections in a crispy skull casing.