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Elder wisdom can come in handy.
With age comes wisdom, or at least we hope it does. As we get older, we collect life lessons that we can pass along to younger generations, sometimes with lengthy stories and sometimes with quippy sayings.
Adages like "A penny saved is a penny earned," or "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," have been part of our collective treasure chest of life advice for generations, but the aphorisms that spring from the experience of our loved ones and mentors are often the most meaningful.
Someone shared that they'd read and appreciated this old man's advice: “My grandpa once told me 'if you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station, the longer it takes you to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be.' He wasn’t talking about trains.” The person asked for more tidbits of wisdom from old folks and people started sharing sayings they heard from their elders growing up.
from AskOldPeopleAdvice
Here are some of the best "old man advice" sayings and how they can be applied in a person's life.
Another commenter put it another way: "Don't look behind you, you aren't going that way." This adage is about not dwelling on the past. Many of us have a tendency to spend more time mentally in the past, rehashing old memories or being nostalgic for what once was, than we do in the present or looking forward to the future. There's nothing wrong with a little reflection, but if most of our focus is in the past, we miss out on the present. Rear view mirrors are for quick glances, not where our focus should be.
This saying is about good character and true integrity. If you notice someone drop a $20 bill and no one is around to see but you, do you give it back to them or do you pick it up and keep it? If you realize that a store didn't charge you for an item, do you point it out and make it right or do you allow the mistake to remain? There are opportunities each day for us to choose between right and wrong, and those choices really speak to who we are if they are made without anyone else knowing.
lisa simpson help GIF Giphy
Don't get cocky and don't burn bridges you think you won't need to return to. There's value in being kind for its own sake, but there's also the reality that being kind also makes people like you. When people like you, they're more likely to lend you a helping hand, and you never know when you're going to be in a position to need one. It's also a good reminder that you're not inherently better than anyone else just because of where you are in life. We're all constantly in flux, so it's important to stay humble and kind.
In other words, "Make all your words sweet because tomorrow you may have to eat them."
The power of silence in general is often underrated, but it can be an especially useful tool in a negotiation. Some people are so uncomfortable with silence that they will make concessions simply to avoid it. And sometimes the best response to an unreasonable demand is to just say nothing and stare, letting the other party come to the realization themselves. It takes calm confidence to simply be quiet and let the silence fill the room, which can feel surprisingly intimidating.
Ah, the strange and mysterious sense of intuition that we can't really describe but know when we feel it. Whether it's getting a creepy vibe about a person or a little voice telling you to do or not do something, those "gut instincts" can serve us well. Of course, if we are prone to anxiety, our instincts can sometimes be confused with anxious thoughts, but "go with your gut" is solid advice anyway.
Listen To It Season 1 GIF by The Roku Channel Giphy
Sometimes people trying to find their way end up hitting roadblock after roadblock, which may mean they just haven't found the right path yet or might mean they need an entire overhaul of their life. That might look like switching career paths entirely, rather than trying to find a job in your field that fits. It might mean changing majors in the middle of your studies when you find yourself not enjoying any of your classes. It might mean finding a new community or reevaluating your relationships.
Several sayings line up with this one, like "Luck is the intersection of preparation and opportunity," and "Luck favors the prepared mind." There's a lot to be said for fortune and hard work going hand in hand. If we expect good things to just land in our lap, we will likely be disappointed, but if we move in the direction of things we want to happen and do the work of preparing for good things to come our way, "luck" frequently seems to follow.
Napoleon Dynamite GIF by Ben L Giphy
Finding a saying that resonates can be really helpful when we're facing a specific challenge in life, especially when we commit it to memory and repeat it often.
This article originally appeared in March.
People share their daily habits that reduce their stress levels.
Americans are stressed and anxious. According to a 2025 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, these are the top things they stress about: current events, keeping themselves and their families safe, paying bills and expenses, and their health.
Stress can have serious impacts on the body and mind. If you can feel its impact, you may be looking for ways to reduce your stress.
Over on Reddit, user Head-Tangerine-8260 posed the question: "What's a simple habit that made your daily life way less stressful?" to a thread of people looking for healthy habits,
Real people shared their real-life advice for how they have reduced stress in their lives. These are 28 simple habits hat can help you lead a life of less stress.
Breathe Deep Breath GIF by C.Nichole Giphy
"Plan next day every evening." —digital_tempo
"Having my outfit picked out, ironed and my work bag packed the night before gives me such relief in the morning." —MarsupialLast4651
"Give yourself 30 mins more than whatever you think you need in your morning routine. Having a bit more time to shift into your day vs feeling rushed and out of time all the time is an easy but impactful change for my daily routine." —Purfectenschlag
Breathe Chill Out GIF by CSDRMS Giphy
"My doctor told me about this yoga nidra and I really enjoy it. eye mask, headphones, under covers. my nervous system melts when I hear her voice. I look forward to it at the end of a work day." —Janices1976
"I've been doing the Wim Hof Breathing Technique for a month now and I really feel more energized and motivated. It's like life is a little bit easier." —Soquerodesabafar
"Remind myself that anxiety is nothing more than thinking-rapid, untrained thinking. Stop overthinking about the future and stop fretting about the past."— slutspells
"Writing down just three priorities each morning. Not a massive to-do list, just the three things that will make the day feel meaningful or productive. It helps cut the noise and gives me a small sense of control, especially on chaotic days. It’s simple, but it’s saved my sanity more than once. What’s yours?" —Self-CoachedPress
Mental Health Relax GIF by mtv Giphy
"Actually taking a 15-minute break to step outside and walk away from the office/desk. Before I would still stay in/at it and scroll on phone, or just sit on the office couch. Started realizing I craved sunlight and silence (quiet mind), and it lets me reset. I use it to do 1-2 laps around the office complex." —BOHICA_Headquarters
"No news. Stopped watching completely. Haven’t blown up yet. Used to be something I did first thing in the morning and it just rattled me. Now I’m very selective with what information I let myself consume. Might be unpopular but it works for me." —ATXGreenEyes
"Going to a coffee shop on Sunday and planning out my week, daily workouts." —taytay10133
"Journal. Write everyday." —Spare_Lemon5010
Journaling Dear Diary GIF by Ryn Dean Giphy
"Meal prepping. Cooking one day a week for the whole week and partially freezing / defrosting. The mental relief of not having to think about what to eat and cooking daily is amazing. One 2 hour session in the kitchen a week is bearable and easier to battle through than the daily thought process and prep. Less mess throughout the rest of the week, as no more prep needed. Microwaving dinner is quick and easy if in a time pinch. I can also track my macros easily and saw progress in my physique within 2 weeks as I was consistent with my intake." —Consistent-Choice-22
"One load of laundry every day, with a baby. Roomba vacuum on every morning. Straightening the couch pillows and blankets before I go to bed. Running the dishwasher daily, even if it’s half full." —Bonus_Leading
"I start my day with a cold plunge. Been huge for my mental state because in my head I’m getting the hardest part of my day behind me before 8am. Everything after that is simple." —mgm904
Screaming Nat Geo GIF by National Geographic Channel Giphy
"Tracking expenses in an analog manner. Doing it electronically and relying on my bank portal wasn’t enough. Some charges would take days to go through. Some are instant. Writing down each expense for each paycheck and budgeting what’s leftover is WAY less stressful than guessing, or not knowing, when something is coming out. It’s extremely simple. Can be time consuming but extremely simple and makes me upfront with my finances instead of blindly spending." —Snipes2016
"No phone for the first hour of my day. Gives you the first hour entirely to yourself to slowly start your day and prevents a massive cortisol spike when your brain is at its most vulnerable." —lolobq47
"Ensuring my travel mugs and water bottles are all clean before I go to bed. And that my refrigerator water is filled (we put filtered water into a glass thing), and the filter is filled with water too." —mrsredfast
"Not taking my phone into the bedroom." —dl039
Keep Quiet Pho GIF by Zhot Giphy
"I have a poster of the pale blue dot by Carl Sagan hanging in my room. It really helps to remind myself that in the end, nothing really matters. We are but a speck in the vast galactic ocean, alive for a brief moment. Also, 30 mins of shooting hoops." —bluebird-03
"Prayers of gratitude." —StoicallyRoasted
"Making my bed every morning. I heard it so much and I kept it up for 2 weeks (to form the habit). And honestly, it just makes my morning better and starts my day. And its nice to climb into bed at night into a nicely made bed. When I don't, my day just feels off." —InteractionNo9110
"I changed my work wardrobe to just white or gray shirts, black skirts, and three colors of shoes (besides nude and black, which are imperative). I can wear different blazers or belts to correspond with my footwear and jewelry, but not trying to put together an outfit helped. I grab something and then something else. Then something else. I only have to worry about getting a jacket that matches with my shoes. Am I wearing blue? Then the other decisions are made. Cool." —5Tapestries
Robin Williams played inspiring English teacher John Keating in "Dead Poets Society."
As a Gen X parent of Gen Z teens and young adults, I'm used to cringing at things from 80s and 90s movies that haven't aged well. However, a beloved film from my youth that I thought they'd love, "Dead Poets Society," sparked some unexpectedly negative responses in my kids, shining a spotlight on generational differences I didn't even know existed.
I probably watched "Dead Poets Society" a dozen or more times as a teen and young adult, always finding it aesthetically beautiful, tragically sad, and profoundly inspiring. That film was one of the reasons I decided to become an English teacher, inspired as I was by Robin Williams' portrayal of the passionately unconventional English teacher, John Keating.
The way Mr. Keating shared his love of beauty and poetry with a class of high school boys at a stuffy prep school, encouraging them to "seize the day" and "suck all the marrow out of life," hit me right in my idealistic youthful heart. And when those boys stood up on their desks for him at the end of the film, defying the headmaster who held their futures in his hands? What a moving moment of triumph and support.
My Gen Z kids, however, saw the ending differently. They did love the feel of the film, which I expected with its warm, cozy, comforting vibe (at least up until the last 20 minutes or so). They loved Mr. Keating, because how can you not? But when the movie ended, I was taken aback hearing "That was terrible!" and "Why would you traumatize me like that?" before they also admitted, "But it was so gooood!"
- YouTube youtu.be
The traumatize part I actually get—I'd forgotten just how incredibly heavy the film gets all of a sudden. (A caveat I feel the need to add here: Gen Z uses the word "traumatize" not in a clinical sense but as an exaggerative term for being hit unexpectedly by something sad or disturbing. They know they weren't literally traumatized by the movie.)
But in discussing it further, I discovered three main generational differences that impacted my kids' "Dead Poets Society" viewing experience and what they took away from it.
The first thing my 20-year-old said when the credits rolled was, "What? That's terrible! Nothing changed! He got fired and the school is still run by a bunch of stodgy old white men forcing everyone to conform!" My immediate response was, "Yeah, but he changed those boys' individual lives, didn't he? He helped broaden their minds and see the world differently."
Individual impact isn't as inspiring to Gen Z as it was to Gen X. Giphy
I realized that Gen X youth valued individuals going against the old, outdated system and doing their own thing, whereas Gen Z values the dismantling of the system itself. For Gen X, Mr. Keating and the boys taking a stand was inspiring, but the fact that it didn't actually change anything outside of their own individual experiences stuck like a needle in my Gen Z kids' craw.
To be fair, I did tell them there was "a sad part" before the movie started. But I'd forgotten how deeply devastating the last part of the movie was, so my daughter's "Why would you do that to me?!" was somewhat warranted. "I thought maybe a dog would die or something!" she said. No one really expected one of the main characters to die by suicide and the beloved teacher protagonist to be blamed for his death, but I'd somehow minimized the tragedy of it all in my memory so my "sad part" warning was a little insufficient.
But also to be fair, Gen X youth never got any such warnings—we were just blindsided by tragic plot twists all the time. As kids, we cheered on Atreyu trying to save his horse from the swamp in "The Neverending Story" only to watch him drown. Adults showed us "Watership Down" thinking it would be a cute little animated film about bunnies. We were slapped in the face by the tragic child death in "My Girl," which was marketed as a sweet coming of age movie.
Gen Z was raised in the era of trigger warnings and trauma-informed practices, while Gen X kids watched a teacher die on live TV in our classrooms with zero follow-up on how we were processing it. Those differences became apparent real quick at the end of this movie.
The other reaction I wasn't expecting was the utter disdain my girls showed for Knox Overstreet, the sweet-but-over-eager character who fell for the football player's cheerleader girlfriend. His boundary-crossing attempts to woo her were always cringe, but for Gen X, cringe behavior in the name of love was generally either overlooked, tolerated, or sometimes even celebrated. (Standing on a girl's lawn in the middle of the night holding a full-volume stereo over your head was peak romance for Gen X, remember.) For Gen Z, the only thing worse than cringe is predatory behavior, which Knox's obsessiveness and pushiness could arguably be seen as. My own young Gen X lens saw Knox and said, "That's a bit much, dude. Take it down a notch or three." My Gen Z daughters' lens said, "That guy's a total creepo. She needs to run far the other way."
Gen Z is much more black and white about behaviors than previous generations. Giphy Red Flag Run GIF by BuzzFeed
On one hand, I was proud of them for recognizing red flag behaviors and calling them out. On the other hand, I saw how little room there is for nuance in their perceptions, which was…interesting.
To be clear, I don't think my Gen Z kids' reactions to "Dead Poets Society" are wrong; they're just different than mine were at their age. We're usually on the same page when it comes to these kinds of analyses, so seeing them have a drastically different reaction to something I loved at their age was really something. Now I'm wondering what other favorite movies from my youth I should show them to see if they view those differently as well—hopefully without "traumatizing" them too much with the experience.
This article originally appeared in January.
A millennial woman has a realization.
There’s something so satisfying when someone can take a phenomenon that many of us feel and, for the first time, put it into words so we can better understand it. A Millennial woman recently coined the term “The Shift” to describe the moment she realized that a growing number of people in positions of responsibility were younger than her, and it struck a chord with many in her generation.
Once one has made “The Shift,” they begin to realize that the people who, ten years before, were teenagers, are now in their late 20s and have responsible positions in life. They are lawyers, police officers, parents of young children, and teachers. It’s like realizing that your besties' younger brother or sister is all grown up and has a family.
The woman shared her experience on the Millennials subforum on Reddit, and many of her cohort were in total agreement because they had just made The Shift, too. “Did anyone else experience ‘the Shift’? How old were you when it happened?” she asked before describing her moment.
A smiling young dcotor holding a clipboard. via Canva/Photos
“I was a new patient at this particular [doctor’s] office,” she wrote. “The doctor walked in the room. I took one look at him and thought, ‘OK, this guy looks really young. Must be a medical assistant/ intern or something.’ Nope. He was my doctor. Through casual conversation, I would come to find out that he was 33 years old…My doctor was two years younger than me.”
This realization kicked off a shift where she began to see the whole world differently. "I’d be watching the local news and realize how incredibly young everyone looked—the reporters, the meteorologists, etc. I started noticing how young the faces looked on billboards for local attorneys and realtors,” she wrote. “It’s so bizarre and difficult to explain. Logically, I know that people younger than me can be in all of these professions, but my brain just can’t seem to grasp the jarring reality that the cohort of ‘grown-ups’ now includes people who seem so young to me.”
A woman with hands over her mouth. via Canva/Photos
The post inspired others to explain the moment they experienced The Shift.
"For me, it was one event. I work as a firefighter, we got a new batch of recruits in in their early 20s, doing some on the job training and one of them says 'you know, I remember you, you came to my school for career day in 4th grade!' I felt my body disassemble itself, I looked in the mirror later and just realized that I was older."
"I am a former professor and it was the transition from students not being alive for Clinton’s presidency to not being alive for 9/11 that really did me in. My pop culture references also all died on arrival."
"I’m 38 and my husband is 39. A few weeks ago he commented that cops have gotten so much younger and I had to correct him that they’re starting at the same age they always did were just older. I pushed my husband into the shift but I think it was time."
"When professional sports players started to get younger than me. A 20-year-old kid playing professional hockey, I told my husband that is an actual child not a grown up."
"For me it hit when I wasn’t the youngest in my department at work anymore. Now I’m in the middle to older group."
As people age, they often feel like they are mentally 25, although their body continues to age to the point where they have a hard time even recognizing themselves. When The Shift happens, it's jarring because it’s a reminder that we’re no longer just getting started in life and that we’re now part of the established, older generation. The Shift may hurt a bit, but it’s also a great reminder that life comes at you fast and to get to work on achieving your goals, because time waits for no one.
Kids listen to everything parents say, even when their parents aren't talking to them. You don't have to be a parent to witness or experience this adorable and sometimes hilarious parroting. A toddler repeating a swear word in their tiny baby voice will almost always fill a room with laughter and a little embarrassment for the parent. Truly, they'll say and repeat anything, even things they don't remotely understand! It's incredibly entertaining.
It's how kids learn about the world around them because parents are their first teachers even when they're not attempting to be. Kids are always watching, always soaking things up like hilarious little sponges. But there are some things that you don't quite expect kids to pick up on until a little later in life so it may catch you a little off guard.
Tasha Mahachi, a mom of a 3-year-old little girl, Sanaa, found herself slightly confused when her daughter exclaimed that she needed a husband. No, she wasn't saying the mom needs a husband, she already has one. Little Sanaa wanted her own husband.
Sanaa doesn't want a wedding, she wants a husband Giphy
After overhearing Mahachi refer to the little girl's dad as her husband while speaking to someone else, Sanaa decided she just had to have her own husband.
A pink husband, to be exact. Whatever that means.
Mahachi shared the adorable interaction on her social media page where it racked up over 350k views. In the video, Sanaa is seen stamping her foot, clearly a bit annoyed on repeating the question. Her frustration grows after her mom breaks the news that the little girl doesn't have a husband. Poor mom does her best to explain to an emotionally irrational 3-year-old that this is impossible.
"I want a husband," Sanaa whines while stomping her feet before Mahachi asks what kind of husband the preschooler wants. That's when she reveals the difficult order, "pink." Yes, Sanaa wants a pink husband. It's really not too much to ask when you think about it...when you're three.
To be clear, Sanaa doesn't want a wedding, or to play dress up as a bride. She just wants the husband part. If her dad is a husband, then all she knows is she wants one just like that.
But the problem really comes into play once Sanaa stops having a small tantrum long enough for mom to inform her that if she wants a husband she will have to go find one outside. Sounds reasonable, right? Won't find a husband sitting around the house. But Sanaa doesn't seem to like that advice.
"I not going outside," she says while pleading her case, "it's dark."
Sanaa may be watching a little too much Bluey Giphy
Not going outside would be a bit of a barrier to finding a husband and you can see the little wheels turning in Sanaa's head as she works out how she will collect a pink husband. So, she does what any three year old would do who wants to go outside, she asks her mom to come with her. Again she's thwarted when Mahachi breaks the news that moms and dads don't go outside to help find husbands. The pair have reached an impasse.
Viewers couldn't get enough of the amusing interaction and some could relate to the girl's dilemma.
@tashamahachi She heard me calling her dad my husband and suddenly she’s desperate to get herself one too😂 #toddlersbelike #toddlerconversations #sanaaandmummy
"Ma’am go on Amazon and order her a pink husband right neowww," someone joked in the comments.
"We can all relate. To wanting a husband, to not wanting to go outside to find him, to being scared, oh baby we get it," another laughs.
"This is what a convo between me and God sound like praying for a husband meanwhile I’m scared to meet new people, I don’t go out and i always take my best friend everywhere," one person confesses.
"I’ve never related more to a toddler. Cuz sis I’m also scared & do not want to go outside & also want a husband RN [right now]," another commenter chimes in.
"It's okay kiddo. I don't want to leave the house to find one by myself either. It's scary," someone else proclaims.
"All introverts, let's gather here. We want a partner but we ain't going outside," added another.
Sanaa to her future husband: "I will find you.:" Giphy
Another commented astutely noted that this video will be absolutely perfect if and when Sanaa does decide to get married (when she's much older). There won't be a dry eye in the house when this clip comes up in the video montage one day!
The whole thing is so impossibly sweet. Mom and dad should take it as a huge compliment that Sanaa sees their marriage and relationship as a positive thing that she wants one day (or, more accurately, now). Of course, Sanaa isn't thinking about it in terms so deep. She just knows if Mom has a husband, she wants one, too. But it sure has to make her dad feel pretty good about himself. Even if Sanaa isn't willing to venture outside to go look for one.
Until then, Sanaa isn't alone. Plenty of people want a husband to find them without ever having to leave the house to interact with others. Maybe ordering a pink husband online doesn't sound so silly after all.
This article originally appeared in January. It has been updated.
