Throughout his incredible life my great-grandfather (1924-2013) wrote down life lessons/advice and gave the list to my grandmother before he passed. She copied and shared this portion with us- I feel it’s all stood the test of time and is still relevant today.
My favorite is “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, make amends immediately. It’s easier to eat crow while it’s still warm”.
I feel so lucky I was able to know my great grandparents- they were amazing people and had a special love story not unlike The Notebook
Anyways, I wasn’t sure where to share this but I thought I would start here. Is there anything that does or doesn’t resonate with you?
I want “Good sex should involve laughter, because, you know, Funny.” Or “Never pass up an opportunity to use the restroom.” on my tombstone. Lol
“Never leave a place where you’re having a good time to go somewhere else where you only think you’ll have a better time”
Wise words to live by.
Great life lessons /advice.
I live by these 2 as well.
1) The thing with Life is, the days are long, but the years are short.
2) Peace & Purpose. Purpose to your life, brings peace to your soul.
I’m 49, and somehow I’d never come across the idiom about eating crow. It’s fantastic.
“Don’t be attached to the outcome” wasn’t something I’ve ever really heard or considered. Great advice.
Thanks for this. This sub needs more of this kind of cool.
If it is OK with you, I’d like to make some of these if not all of them into signs I can give my own daughters.
Borrowed wisdom is the best wisdom since the mistakes were already made in advance.
I like this one that I heard an old coworker say:
*Don’t explain yourself. Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.*
“Don’t supply the rocks that are to be thrown at you” are monumental words to live by.
He was a wise man. Gonna save this. thanks for sharing!
My grandfathers last words to me were “giver hell when you can” and I think it fits in pretty well here
Wow, thank you so much for the awards and comments!!! 🙂 my great grandpa was a marine in World War II, ran his own business with his brothers and was also completely devoted to the care of my great grandmother (who was sick with Alzheimer’s) until the very end. He passed less than a year after she did.
We have piles of postcards/love letters he sent her while at war. They had a special love that I was able to witness and I’m so grateful for that
Wise words.
Reminds me of the sunscreen song.
“It’s easier to eat crow while it’s still warm.” Brilliant. Fantastic post OP thanks for sharing.
Wow love this. Thank you for sharing
Life is short but it is the longest thing we have.
That is so cool. You should get it turned into a poster with a nice font.
I enjoyed reading this thank you
I would have liked to have had a beer with this man.
“Easier to eat crow while its still warm”
As someone who has stuck their foot in their mouth often enough to need a podiatrist for their jaw, I can empathize. If you hurt someone, apologize and acknowledge immediately. Ironically, try to let the dish cool and you’ll feel twice the burn.
This should be the start of a book of wisdom for us dumb asses
Nice list. I saved it.
I feel like your great grandfather may have been a Friend of Bill W.
My dad had “show up, pay attention, tell the truth, and be open to the outcome” on his kitchen cabinet for as long as I can remember.
“Never pass up an opportunity to use the Restroom” could have been taken from the Roman play, which said
> Never miss a chance to eat, drink, or take a piss.
Which I have remembered since college.
Or this version by Edward Cole from the movie Bucket List:
As you get older, Never pass up a bathroom, never waste a hard-on, and never trust a fart
Just on a guess, were they from the Midwest or the South?
Yoh I needed to read this
Wise words. Would have liked to have known the man.
This is so neat! I think the common denominator with the handwriting is age. My dad was born in 1940 & wrote in an uppercase style as well! 🙂
Your grandfather sounds like they included “grandmother” advice too:
“Never marry a man who hates his mother.”
“When baking follow the directions, when cooking, go by taste”
“If he says you’re too good for him, believe it.”
Example of how the greatest generation had more humility than boomers.