Wise Words Spoken

I would think that at some point in every person's life - they receive one good piece of advice that sticks with them throughout.


Mine happened to have been given to me by my Godmother.

I was going through a time where I was stressed, upset, dramatic, unrelenting, and nomadic. I was bouncing from job to job - no real direction to speak of. I had decided to stop pursuing Childhood Education in school due to a recent dislike for kids (one that still stays with me to this day), I was on job number 4 in less than a year, and living with her due to not being able to pay my rent at my last apartment.

Finally - she could take it no more - and in the stage I was in - I have no idea how she managed to sit me down to have this talk with me. But she did. And here it is.

She said to me; "After your name? What is the very next question that people ask you?"

My reply; "I don't know - here in Newfoundland, it's where are your parents from". (Obviously still not sure where she was going with the conversation).

Her response; "Yes - that may be true - but outside of here, and even after that question is asked here - what is the next question that a person asks you? To get to know you? To decide if they want to be associated with you? If they want to get to know you more?"

Again, I respond; "I don't know, Mary."

Finally the answer - "What do you do?"

And there it was, the beginning of a conversation that has lead to the work ethic that I have today.

"The next question that people ask you after they ask your name is - what do you do? They want to know, how educated you are, how responsible you are, where you are going and where you want to be in your life and in your future. You need to ask yourself if you are going to be happy with the answer that you have to give them when that question is asked - will you be proud of yourself with the explanation that you have for what you are doing with your time and what your plans for the future are."

Now, a person's first response to this conversation may be - Who Cares what others think of you as long as you are happy!?!. But that person would be missing the key part of the conversation.

The key part of that that advice/conversation/statement/question is - "Will you be proud of yourself?"

And my answer at that time - at that moment - was no.

No one aspires to be doing nothing with their lives. There is not a single person who doesn't have hopes and dreams to be something great when they find themselves in the career that is earning their living. No ones goal in life is to be financially insecure, living with the assistance of others.

So, almost immediately after that, I got my job at Downhome. Starting off as a retail sales clerk - went back to school to do Architectural Engineering Technology - and then came back to Downhome as a Advertising Account Manager. A job that I love. Each day I am proud of what I do. 7 years later. And, should that job ever change, or should I want to leave - I have something equally exciting and fulfilling to do as a career.

So - Thank You to my Godmother.

And, I guess my message is that when you hear a good piece of advice - listen to it. Think about it. Make it yours. And, it could be the key to making things a little brighter in your life.

The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself. - Oscar Wilde