HOL

I've read so many books which have left me wiser on one topic or another. Sometimes through the theme or morale of the book itself, sometimes through actual advice given by one of the characters to another. But it made me think, which is actually the best piece of advice I've ever gotten from a book. Or the funniest piece of advice that made me giggle when I read it because taken out of context this would be the most unlikely thing to ever be said, but in context it made perfect sense.

And I got curious: What's that for you guys? What advice have you gotten from reading books, either good or funny or anything else you would like to share.

My all time favorite book, I've read it four times and am trying to use it teach myself more Spanish vocabulary, is The Last Lecture. Its about a dying man reflecting upon his life in a form of a lecture to his students. It taught me life really is too short. I found the book maybe a year after my best friend died, I was quite young so you can imagine the influence of this book as such a sad tie in my life. I really think its worth the read! In case you would like visuals though, the book is actually based on his TED talk: Randy Pausch: Really achieving your childhood dreams.

Two pieces of advice that have stuck with me over the years have come from the book Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. The first is: "Charity ain't giving people what you wants to give, it's giving people what they need to get". This reminds me then when helping others it is not about what type of help I think they should get but what type of help they actually need regardless of my opinion or feelings.

The other piece of advice comes from this scene between Death and his granddaughter Susan:

"You're saying humans need...fantasies to make life bearable", said Susan.
"No. Humans need fantasy to be human", Death replied
"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers?"
"Yes. As practice. You have to start out learning to believe the little lies."
"So we can believe the big ones?"
"Yes. Justice. Mercy. Duty. That sort of thing."
"They're not the same at all!"
"You think so? Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder and sieve it through the finest sieve and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy."
"Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point?"
"My point exactly...You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?

This reminds me that humans, both collectively and individually, can do so much when we put our minds to it. If something is wrong in the world we can work together to correct it. Whether we do is a separate question. But I like holding on to the hope that we can change things, we can create new concepts and ideas and can continually work to create a better world.

I read "The Pilgrimage" by Paulo Coelho, when I was possibly a mid-teenager. The book itself was full of a lot to learn, for anyone on the journey of self - discovery. I have forgotten a lot of the content, but there were a few pieces of advice in the book that I still carry in my mind and likely will for years to come. They are:
1. “We always have a tendency to see those things that do not exist and to be blind to the great lessons that are right there before our eyes.” - Living in a world constantly participating in a rat race, we sometimes keep worrying endlessly and being sad about things beyond our control, at the same time missing out on the great things we could have learned if we focused on the present, stayed grounded, and actually appreciated our surroundings for a while. Since reading this, mindfulness has been my go-to retreat to fish for great solutions, whenever I am overwhelmed by seemingly great problems.
2. “It's a good idea always to do something relaxing prior to making an important decision in your life.” - It is very easy to feel distracted and make impulsive long - term decisions in a fast-paced world like the one we live in. We are none of us without regrets, for the same reason. After reading this, I found that this was the best possible advice. Taking time to slow down and breathe ensures that we don't regret the decisions that we make.
3. “It has been said that there is no such thing as coincidence in this world.” - This is something I literally live by. I believe that every person that we meet, every incident that unfolds, has a greater purpose in our lives. If positive, it is divine help, and if negative, it is a lesson about what to avoid.
4. “When in doubt, just take the next small step” - This advice has allowed me to stay consistent and adaptable in the face of overwhelming and demotivating circumstances. Focusing on the bigger picture can be distracting by being overwhelming, but taking the next small step serves as a virtual short - term abstract reward, motivating us to continue towards the bigger destination without stopping to despair.
5. “A disciple...can never imitate his guide's steps. You have your own way of living your life, of dealing with problems, and of winning. Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself.” - A teacher or a friend is always a great guide, but knowing how to apply the advice correctly in a shape that fits one's unique situation is a life skill.
These pieces of advice have helped me a lot as I navigated life.