As you go through life—whether walking gently barefoot or dashing through the undergrowth without a care in the world—you naturally pick up some wisdom and experience along the way. And like the pebbles you’ll find on the beach, all of these insights can look very different, ranging from the practical (‘lift with your legs not your back’) all the way to the cliched but deeply true (‘spending time with your loved ones is far more important than your career’). Though some people simply advise you to regularly sharpen your shovel because it makes a world of difference.
Twitter user @Dustmopp31 made a lot of people smile when he asked them to share random but great bits of advice they’d like to give others. The question quickly spread beyond the boundaries of Twitter, however, and drew quite a lot of redditors from the r/MadeMeSmile subreddit into the discussion as well.
We’ve collected the very best, most interesting, and even quirky pieces of advice shared by these internet users. Scroll down, upvote your fave posts, and if you have any advice to share with all the other Pandas reading this, consider dropping by the comment section at the bottom of this article. Got your notepads ready? Let’s go!
I reached out to a couple of experts in their fields to hear what advice they’d give others. I spoke to British comedy writer, author, singer-songwriter, and all-round creative person Ariane Sherine in order to take a peek at the pearls of wisdom she’s collected over the years. “What you give is usually what you get back. I’ve given my daughter endless kindness and love and she’s turned into a very kind and loving girl. But there are adults who don’t respond well to kindness and will throw it back in your face, so with adults, the lesson is: only love those who love you,” she told Bored Panda how she approaches life. Scroll down for my interviews with Ariane, as well as with fitness expert and entrepreneur Jack Bly.
#1
Leave the first time he frightens you. Because it won’t be the last.
Image source: Technical_Acadia_218, Zhivko Minkov
#2
Apologize to your children. Genuinely. If you were wrong, say sorry and mean it.
Image source: UnspeakablePlants, Jordan Whitt
#3
When you’re cooking the recipe is only a reference. When you’re baking the recipe is the work of the law.
Image source: Correct-Serve5355, https://unsplash.com/photos/5QgIuuBxKwM
#4
Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.
Image source: Ikhsan Sugiarto, Headway
#5
When a kid shows you a drawing, instead of saying “what is it?” Or guessing, which could upset them, ask them
“Can you tell me about it?”
The kid will be excited to tell you all about it and they don’t get upset that their nonsensical squiggles weren’t immediately recognized.
Image source: ginntress, Jerry Wang
#6
Check-in on people who always seem strong. Sometimes they’re not doing well but think they can’t say anything because they’re the “strong one.”
Image source: Simple_Somewhere_564, Priscilla Du Preez
#7
Never lie to your doctor.
Image source: ChickFromTheSticks, Usman Yousaf
#8
TURN ON SUBTITLES FOR YOUR KIDS!!! Studies have shown it’s proven to help with reading.
Image source: rainbowsunshines, Alexander Dummer
#9
Never answer a kid’s joke. Always let them tell you the punchline even if you already know it.
Image source: kmfp5150, Viet Hoang
#10
Use turn signals when driving.
Image source: StarKiller5A, Krzysztof Hepner
#11
Never insult someone who is going to prepare your food or has access to your data.
Image source: EEpromChip, Louis Hansel
#12
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
Image source: Channiex, Simon Maage
#13
Get everything in writing, even if you think you don’t need it. An email, a text message, something in case things don’t go as planned. Has saved me countless times and burned me by not having it.
Image source: iwearshmedium, Kaitlyn Baker
#14
Don’t smoke. Don’t even start.
Image source: jingling_bell
#15
Befriend the IT team at work.
Image source: adeltron30303, Arif Riyanto
#16
If you see a bathroom in your dream, don’t use it.
Image source: False_Factor4378
#17
The best advice I ever got was from a Veterinarian when I brought him a newly adopted old dog with many health issues: “I will help you prolong his life, I will NOT help you prolong his death.” Words to live by when you have pets and have to face “the decision”.
Image source: Cosette2016
#18
From domestic abusers to supposed experts to politicians. If someone tells you not to seek out another’s opinion, they’re lying to you.
Image source: ALiteralSentientTank, Toa Heftiba
#19
If you love someone, tell them. Friends, family, coworker. It doesn’t matter. This may be the last time you talk to them.
Image source: JewVader1, Nathan Dumlao
#20
If your friend is starting a new business, don’t expect a discount. Instead, support them with sales as much as possible.
Image source: icouldlivewoutbacon
#21
If a kid ever hands you a banana, you answer it like a telephone.
Image source: NightAndShinyArmor, michael kooiman
#22
When you are on a job interview, don’t forget that you are also evaluating whether that job is a fit for you. Ask about benefits, work culture, what the interviewer personally finds valuable about working there. 1. This makes it appear that you have self-worth and eases your nervousness. 2. The answers they give can tell you a lot about whether you actually want to work there.
Image source: hypercoolseries, Tim Gouw
#23
It’s okay to like things that are considered “cringey” or unpopular. You decide what you like, not everyone else.
Image source: HollowEmptyEyes
#24
Brush your teeth no matter what just brush em before you lose em
Image source: Soft_Emergency9036, Superkitina
#25
Whenever you’re stuck in a situation where someone starts to cry, offer to get them water. It gives them the space to express their emotions privately for a bit and feel cared for as you are trying to help by getting water. Also helps if people crying makes you uncomfortable.
Image source: Lilpoopiesquat, Ikhsan Sugiarto
#26
Forgive your younger self.
Most importantly, start small. Pick one moment of the past – start small- and view it through your current self. Oftentimes, our mistakes make a lot of sense considering our age/situation. View your past self as if it was your friend or child and comfort accordingly.
TLDR It’s forgiving/understanding your past self by understanding WHY you made that mistake.
Image source: kennedymayfans, Giulia Bertelli
#27
When in doubt if you get a weird email, text, letter; never click any links in the text or email. Always go to the bank to verify if it is real.
Image source: kat92876, Priscilla Du Preez
#28
Use sunscreen.
Image source: partyhatwurmpl3, Onela Ymeri
#29
Waste is generated at the time of purchase, not disposal. Holding onto junk just because you paid money for it isn’t being thrifty, it’s hoarding. Your mental health and your wallet will both be better off if you get rid of it to make space for the things you actually need.
Image source: Fakjbf, Dennis Sylvester Hurd
#30
Make sure you drink enough water. Every cell in your body needs it
Image source: Runner_Grl, Brendan Church
#31
Never send an angry email or text immediately. Wait at least an hour and read it out loud or to a friend.
Image source: FlourFlavored, Jeferson Santu
#32
Keep learning new things
Image source: Narrow-Macaroon-7004
#33
From argumentative a**holes at the grocery store to bullies in public school, this is my best advice:
If someone tries to give you a hard time verbally and wants to start crap with you, insult you, or just get you going in some way, always remember:
You allow conversations to happen. You can control the length by simply not engaging. Remember: anyone who tries harder to get you to respond is losing and getting desperate.
Source: former Correctional Officer. People talking s**t to you from behind bars doesn’t matter when you never acknowledge it. Eventually, you stop caring when you hear instigation and you hear it for what it is: a power play. The only winning option is not to play.
Image source: LoneQuietus81, Christian Erfurt
#34
Don’t feel upset if you can’t find a nice woman/man to date/spend time with. Rather be the loneliest man alive than being attached to the wrong one. It only takes one wrong one to never make this mistake again. Take your time, you are beautiful and there is no rush.
Image source: Flubadubadub
#35
Take care of your Mental health. It should be a priority. Once you lose your health, life sucks.
Image source: SnooMacaroons8373
#36
Work will never love you back.
Image source: hennessy-lou
#37
Learn how to say no, and learn how to have tact and grace towards others.
Image source: cpancoast
#38
Always budget for less money than you have, that way if you make mistakes it’ll be ok. Leave room for error
Image source: platinummaker
#39
If you’re an artist or in a job where you type a lot, take breaks and do wrist stretches! Carpel Tunnel sucks.
Image source: Macbuff-of-Fife, Alison Janssen
#40
Don’t expect ‘you’ from other people.
Image source: Beneficial-Bridge879, Nigel Tadyanehondo
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