1. “You don’t have to know.” (From my friend Tracy Shilcutt, who was listening to me freak out about what to do with my life after college graduation.)
2. “Give yourself something to look forward to every day.” (From the ever-wise Jacque, on combating boredom and loneliness.)
3. “Go home at five o’clock. The work will wait for you.” (From Glenn, my supervisor at my first grown-up job.)
4. “Use real butter.” (From Julie, and Julia Child, and many other good cooks.)
5. “There is no judgment or competition in yoga.” (From the lovely McKay, yoga teacher extraordinaire.)
6. “Throw your hat in the ring.” (From Tara Austen Weaver, aka Tea.)
7. “Fresh herbs make everything better.” (Jon has never said that, to my knowledge, but he uses fresh herbs in his delicious dishes whenever he can.)
8. From my mom: “If you don’t love it, don’t buy it.” “Stand up straight.” “Put an avocado pit into guacamole to keep it from turning brown.” “Plan ahead.” “At least try to look nice.”
9. “Real writers can’t not write.” (From Al Haley, my college creative writing professor.)
10. “You can do anything for one more week.” (From my friend Frankie – helpful in either surviving crisis mode or just sticking it out.)
11. “Keep your elbow in!” (From Cole, while swing dancing.)
12. “Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do want.” (From the ever-wise Mr. Walker, teacher, advisor and mentor extraordinaire.)
13. “Proofread everything.” And other editing advice, from Ron.
14. From my dad: “The male ego is a fragile thing.”
What advice do you cherish? We can all certainly use a few wise words.
cakes, tea and dreams 
Still loving your lists.
I don’t remember her exact words, but one of the smartest things my Mom ever told me to do was NOT to confide in her negative things about my husband. Find someone else and don’t turn her into a meddling mother-in-law. Fabulous advice.
I am a list person too and this is my favorite list of yours to date (though I did really like the scents one too!). I really appreciated the first piece of advice you listed; I have received it too and it has played a big part in my life.
In no particular order, here are pieces of advice I have treasured:
1. Mindful presence – live in the moment, not in the memories of the past or in anticipation of the future. Still very hard for me.
2. When you want to say ‘no’ to an opportunity or experience out of fear or excessive worry, say yes instead. Again, still very hard for me, but this is the advice that helped me climb an active volcano or do my work in conflict zones.
3. “Let the soft animal of your body love what it loves” – from Mary Oliver, my guide.
4. “yes is a world” – from the e.e. cummings poem I treasure.
5. Uncertainty is a useful guide too – from the second half of this fantastic speech by Drew Faust (start reading at “Professor Daniel Gilbert reported in the NYT”: http://president.harvard.edu/speeches/faust/090602_bacca.php)
Thank you again for this post.
Rules of Life:
1. Never ask a question you don’t want answered.
2. Never pack more than you can carry.
3. Never eat anything bigger than your head.
I’m smiling at “use real butter.” I was in my late 20s before I took this advice … and I’ve never looked back. (thanks to Jeannie, the sister-in-law I love like a sister!)
Oh honey – sometimes I have to remind myself about that every day. 🙂
loves