Most of us grew up listening to our grandparents and their life advice. They were always wise and had the best intentions in mind.
However, the new age and new way of life made us forget most of their advice, and we are now more into self-help books and life coaches. We face problems and seek help when we get lost, which is not an easy task.
Despite the generation gap, looking back on Grandma’s advice, we realize that she was somehow always right. Here are some forgotten pieces of advice our grandmas used to give us that we so desperately need now.
1. “If They Wanted to, They Would”
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If you need to listen to anyone when it comes to dating advice, it should be your grandma. She surely didn’t need a dating coach to spot a half-hearted romance and walk away from it.
Grandma knew what effort looked like and that it speaks louder than any excuses.
If you had any problems with communication or contact with your partner, she would probably say, “Honey, don’t chase anyone who isn’t walking toward you.”
Their generation did not dwell on something that was not meant for them; they just had to search for someone new who made an effort. That is why their marriages lasted for more than 50 years.
2. “Save a Little, Even When You Have a Little”
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Grandma always had money stashed away, whether in piggy banks or inside her favorite book. She trusted herself the most when it came to saving money, and she always saved for the ‘rainy days’.
Whether she had money or not, the emergency fund was always there, and it was sometimes used for your candy. She knew that you always need something to fall back on when everything falls apart.
In today’s world of unnecessary impulse buys and overconsumption, Grandma’s wisdom rings louder than ever.
3. “Good Manners Never Go Out of Style”
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Grandma knew that good manners can take you a long way. She was polite, always said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and never made other people uncomfortable.
These old-school manners made her appreciate not just others, but also herself more. She knew the power of elegant clothes, flattering makeup, and courtesy.
She would probably be shocked by today’s ghosting, not saying ‘sorry’, and many emojis used instead of real conversations.
4. “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without”
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In Grandma’s time, you did not simply throw away something broken; you fixed it. This Depression-era saying was basically her life motto.
If she had some leftovers in her fridge, they would be turned into a candle-lit dinner. A torn t-shirt? She would sew it right back up.
Grandma didn’t believe in wasting a thing; from food, time, to even wrapping paper.
Today, our generation would call it sustainable living; for her, it was just another Tuesday.
5. “Always Bring a Sweater (Even If It’s Hot Out)”
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Grandma did not need weather apps to know how to dress; she believed that even when it was sunny outside, you needed a sweater.
Layering clothes was not just her style, it was also her taking care of her own health.
Today, with so many places with strong AC, climate change, and unusually changing weather, we should definitely listen to her advice.
6. “A Home-Cooked Meal Heals More Than Hunger”
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Our grandmas knew that food was love served on a plate.
Their stews, pies, and casseroles were made with a lot of love and care, and made all worries disappear as soon as you smelt them.
Grandmas’ meals could cure much more than hunger; they warmed up our hearts before we knew it.
Today, with fast food and food delivery apps, we’ve lost that secret ingredient she had: care.
7. “Your Reputation Is Everything”
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She made sure she was an honest person whose word could be trusted. She did not talk about people behind their backs and never promised something she could not fulfill.
She knew that people would turn on you sooner or later if you were a bad friend, a bad neighbor, or a bad family member.
Reputation was everything to her, and she expected her children and grandchildren to be the same way.
In today’s world, where we do not care about others’ opinions (which is totally OK in some cases), she would want you to have character and grace.
8. “Don’t Air Your Dirty Laundry in Public”
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Grandma understood discretion better than most people today. She kept her problems to herself or to the closest people around her.
If she had an argument with her husband, the guests who arrived a few minutes later for a dinner party would never notice it.
She did not want others to know too much about the wrongs and problems in her life, because she knew that others had them too.
Nobody’s life is perfect, but you can definitely work on yours privately.
9. “Real Love Grows in the Everyday, Not Just the Big Moments”
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She knew that love is not something you show just from time to time. Grandma saw love in the little, everyday things.
If her husband made her coffee just the way she liked it, saw the flowers she loved, and picked them on the way home, or simply made her dinner, she knew it was true love.
She did not need the constant ‘I love you’ or extravagant dinner every other day – for her, love was shown in small actions, not just the big moments.
