Scrutable

Odd thing yesterday.
I was nipping to the shop and a couple of lads walking in the opposite direction said "Hi, what advice would you give?"
I was a bit - eh, what? But they looked like they were kinda genuinely asking ...
[They were about 13/14 - and although it wasn't the kind of thing you'd expect from a typical local lad, some of Gfamson's friendship group could have had a genuine interest in such question (and been willing to ask it) ]
Anyhow - whether a spoof question or not - I didn't have much to offer
#1 response [maybe a bit patronising] - was "Don't do anything to screw up too young, because it can be tricky to recover from it"
They said thanks, and then something I couldn't quite catch, so I then said
#2 response "Oh, and look after your hearing"
Which they really appreciated.

But what would your advice be to young people?

Enjoy nature

Focus on your education. It is the best chance you have of an interesting and fulfilling career.

Don't be afraid to take opportunities. You never know where they will lead you.

You have to be in it to win it. Thinking you are unable do something is a sure way of not doing it.

Best piece of advice I got as a teenager was: If you want to do something then figure out a way to just start doing it.*

Advice I wish I had internalised and taken more seriously: If you have a problem talk to someone.


* obvs doesn’t apply to being a surgeon or suchlike.

Woodchopper wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2024 5:48 am Best piece of advice I got as a teenager was: If you want to do something then figure out a way to just start doing it.*

Advice I wish I had internalised and taken more seriously: If you have a problem talk to someone.


* obvs doesn’t apply to being a surgeon or suchlike.

Becoming a surgeon has a fairly well defined route to get there already, so finding out what that is and getting on the first step isn’t too hard.

The shower curtain hangs inside the bath.

Always listen to your teachers and try your best.

Also - wear sunscreen.

That colour really doesn't suit you.

Adults dont know what they are doing either.

Watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow.

Don’t smoke and if you do stop before the habit gets ingrained. The same applies to vapes.

I once read an interview with jazz bass hero Steve Swallow, in which he was asked ‘Do you have any words of advice for aspiring young bass players?’, and answered

Travel widely. Seek romance. Sit up straight, clean your room, and chew your food.

Which I believe to be more broadly applicable.

Don't build your life around trite aphorisms.

You are not too young to start saving for retirement.

Sometimes, everything you ever wanted floats above, sticking out its tongue and laughing while everything anyone could ever need is down below, waiting for you to notice.

nekomatic wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:49 am I once read an interview with jazz bass hero Steve Swallow, in which he was asked ‘Do you have any words of advice for aspiring young bass players?’, and answered

Travel widely. Seek romance. Sit up straight, clean your room, and chew your food.

Which I believe to be more broadly applicable.

I misread that as “jizz hero”which would fit in with the name and now I worry about my subconscious

Sounds like a new twist on Guitar Hero. And I'm trying not to think about how it works.

When I got home, I realised what I should have said was something along the lines of "If you only had £1000 to last you the rest of your life, you would probably try to spend each £1 wisely. At your age, you are unlikely to have more than 1000 months left - so try to do something worthwhile every month"

noggins wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:59 am Adults dont know what they are doing either.

I'd amend that to:

Adults mostly don't know what they are doing. But when they do, they've learnt it via a bad experience that you can avoid.

Theres always the classic "dont run with scissors". But being as they are getting into the romancy phase of their life, its better to ask (once) and be rejected than hang around doing a bad sheep dog impression.

Always check there is toilet paper before you start to sh.t

The usual stuff like look after your knees, wear sunscreen, school matters.

But also it's OK to be weird. If you don't fit in now you will find people who appreciate you. Value the ones who are there for you not the ones you're told to respect. Blood is thicker than water but if you're in the desert, choose water.

Nullius in verba.

Tessa K wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 11:49 am But also it's OK to be weird.

Though not Republican-weird

El Pollo Diablo wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2024 1:10 pm

Tessa K wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 11:49 am But also it's OK to be weird.

Though not Republican-weird

Not the word I would use to describe them.