I have been wanting to write about the ANNOYANCE of unsolicited advice for over a month now…. There are some people, like moms and sisters, that can give advice and it’s appreciated… to a point.AND those same people still love you when you give them “the look” or “the growl” in my case that everything is under control and they need to back off… we even laugh about it in my family. There are other times though that you can’t be so honest about what you’d like to do with a friend’s “well meaning” advice. Now that I have almost certainly scared most of my friends into never giving me advice again, let me just say that it has hit me in the head like a load of bricks that I AM probably the WORST about giving unsolicited advice any day, anytime, anywhere. I was even yelling at the TV last week as I watched Parenthood because I thought the very fictional Braverman’s should have been using different therapy techniques with their autistic son. Yeah, that’s sick, I know. I have a problem… I’m willing to admit it… but mama’s not alone girls and I know some of you have the disease too!!

The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter if it’s because we love the person so much, or we’re passionate about something or we just plain think we know more than anybody else on a given subject… IF SOMEONE WANTS OUR ADVICE - THEY WILL ASK… seriously. I’m not saying never confront or speak into a friend’s life when there are serious issues that could harm them or their family… but I think if we’re honest, a lot of the time we all just think a little too highly of our own opinions and think others should hold them in the same high esteem… and that’s just ugly and annoying:) 

I’m reading this book, Victorious Living by E. Stanley Jones, it was written in 1936 and has some of the most profoundly simple advice for how to live in harmony within our own personal communities. Here’s a few things that socked me in the guts:

2. Be willing to give way in small things that do not involve principles. (Meaning stop being a flippen control freak and be willing to not be “right” once in a while)

I feel like it’s time for me to pull up my big girl undies and shut my big girl mouth. It’s time for me to listen to my husband and family and friends… really listen to them and not feel like I have to solve their life when mine is a crazy chaotic mess. It’s time for me to stop being so critical and thinking I know more than you… because it’s wrong and I don’t. Just think of how much less we will all annoy each other if we all just stop… are you with me?  Can I get an AMEN??? or are you all going to “unfriend” me now??:):) I guess I’ll know shortly. ahahahaha.