Unsolicited Advice

Let's talk about advice people! Before we begin, we're going to break down the meaning of this two syllable word:
Ad - An Advertisement or A notice or announcement in a public medium promoting goods, services, etc.
Vice - Immoral or wicked behavior

Is this a very basic, raw description of the terminology at hand? Yes. But what are we without basics??? So here we are talking about a seemingly innocent word, which literally defined in terms means "Advertising immoral or wicked behavior." The actual definition of advice is "guidance or recommendations concerning future prudent action." Personally I feel as though both definitions apply to this lofty little word, it just depends on who is providing said advice.

When it comes to advice, friends can oftentimes work with you, and sometimes ... well, not so much. Don't get me wrong, I am certain that most of the time they mean well, but some of them can really screw with your head. And others do it to watch you squirm.

We'll take me for example: I have absolutely no idea where my life is going. Work, friends, potential love interests ... I have no idea what is going on with any of the aforementioned pieces of my exquisitely jumbled life. And if that isn't nerve wracking enough, throw in some good ole' "advice" and you have yourself a tremendous pile of $%*# to dig through. Because let's face it, not many people are going to tell you "everything is going to be okay". Most will get extreme pleasure in letting you know that life can suck to an overwhelming degree. Let me take a moment to extend a hardy "Thank you" to the miserable people who erased optimism from their vocabulary.

Moving on to the other side of this rather twisted spectrum. Some advice I have received has been wonderful ... sometimes impossible to follow, but wonderful nonetheless. Tidbits like "Go with the flow ... don't push things ... everything happens for a reason ..." are all upbeat and promote a healthier outlook than "Dude, you're totally getting used." Now it's not always possible to "go with the flow" or to believe that "everything happens for a reason." Because, we truly don't want to believe that there is a reason behind getting your heart broken or being laid off. A moral, maybe ... a lesson, sure ... but you never want to think there is a reason. It seems to harsh. When good things happen we are all about the "reason", we love the reason then. I digress.

In short, stop giving crappy advice people. If you don't know, be honest. Don't compare your situations because nothing is ever the same and sometimes reading past the lines can screw things up for everyone.

Until next time ...
xoxo

"We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don't follow when it damages those who take us at our word."
- Adlai Stevenson

This evenings playlist:
Nine Inch Nails Year Zero