I Want To Know The Best Advice You Have Ever Been Given

I had often wished for a mentor, an older person the age of a parent or grandparent, who would give me advice on things, like how to deal with nasty comments by colleagues at work, or what to look out for when buying the first car or property. Maybe then I would not have felt so flabbergasted when a circus queen at the workplace remarked that I should go trim my eyebrows. Maybe my pride would have suffered less when a higher-up at work questioned my choice of a cheap Hyundai Matrix car. 'Why you buy that guzzler? A Toyota would be a better choice,' he looked at me disapprovingly. It was not once but twice he said it, so on the second time, I retorted, 'Because Mr J, my pocket is not as deep as yours.' I think he got the hint because he did not mention it again. A new car in Singapore costs at least $60K. I was proud of that grey Hyundai. It served us well, bringing the boy and his Granny on many adventures and trips to places inaccessible by public transport. But it was true it consumed more petrol than other cars. Subsequently, I replaced it with a second-hand car that was more efficient.


A mentor would have given me advice to avoid a lot of trouble and heartache, I think. But it is true we also learn many things from other sources. I think it was in the film 'Back to the Future' that when Michael J Fox asked an older person what he would have done differently in his life, the latter said, "Take better care of my teeth!" I've booked my appointment yesterday and am going to the dentist right now.