Every Bump Is a Boost

Gems From Parents and Grandparents

“My mom always said, ‘If you are thinking something nice about someone, tell them! Don't just think it. They may be having a bad day and need a kind word.’”

Think back through the years. What’s one thing your parents or grandparents told you that’s stuck with you to this day?

We asked the community on our Dementia Care Facebook Page what advice they’ve never forgotten. Here’s the list of helpful (and funny) tips!

Motivation:
 
“Every bump is a boost.”

“This is from grandma: ‘When life deals you a bad card, it’s okay, don’t cry. All will be well eventually…keep moving.’"

“Mama always says, ‘Never say never.’”

“Sometimes good enough is good enough!”

“Life is like a garden. You can choose to plant and tend to it carefully with produce abundant or let the weeds grow and bugs infest it, producing no crops. ”

Physical Care:

“Take care of your teeth!”

“I support my legs and they support me.”

“Momma: ‘Don't leave home in dirty underwear; you never know.’ (She was right! I didn't expect a car accident! Mine were a little frayed and I thought of her!)”

“Stay out of the sun.”

“Take care of your body and your body will take care of you!”

Opportunity:

“Go into the medical field, you'll always have a job!”

“My paternal grandma always used to say, ‘Make the rest of your life the BEST of your life, honey. Live each day to the fullest and never ever give up on your dreams."

“Use your mind as much as you can, do puzzles or word games!”

Attitude:

"During the war—always Do Your Best!”

“From my nana:  ‘As long as you believe in yourself, you can do anything.’”

“I'm better than no one and no one is better than me.”

“Morals and Christian values.”

“Be respectful.”

“From my mum who sadly passed away aged 62 in 2010 from Alzheimer’s: ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’”

“Always be good, humanity is above all. When you do good God saves you from evils. And what goes around comes around…”

“My Grammy told me to always think beautiful thoughts.”

“1. There's no free lunch. 2. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Dad was right. I think of his advice often.” (From Twitter.)

Character:

“Children need less of your money and more of your time.”

“If you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all.”

“My maternal grandmother (who was married to my grandfather for 62 years) sat me down one day when I was a teenager and said, ‘Do not get married until you can take care of yourself, don't ever depend on a man.’ I took that advice to heart and learned how to change tires, re-set a toilet, etc. Best advice I ever got. Now happily married for eight years.”

“It's not always what you say, but how you say it.” (From Twitter.)

“Love and respect people, but love and respect yourself first, and speak your voice when you disagree because someday it will matter.”

“My grandfather's advice before I got married: ’Never go to bed angry.’"

“Always open the door for elders.”

“I was really close to my granddad and I always phoned him for advice, and he always said the same thing: 'Sit down for five minutes and think about the problem. If you can fix it or change it, do it, but if you can't, then no point worrying about it.’ He died 14 years ago and I still use that when I am worried about something.”