When you get stuck in a rut or just need a few words of wisdom to point you in the right direction, you’re bound to turn to someone with storied life experience — someone who’s been there. And when it comes to people who’ve been there, done that, lived to tell the tale, and are happy to pass on the pearls, you can’t get much better than grandpas life advice.
On the eve of my wedding, I remember my grandfather (known in our family as “Papa”) pulling me aside to give me an invaluable tip about life and love: “Try your best not to speak out of anger, and never go to bed angry.” Over the years, I’ve learned that failing to follow this life advice is a surefire way to say things I’ll wind up regretting.
We could all use a little more guidance like that, right? So, we decided to turn to social media to source some of the best life advice doled out by grandfathers all over. Read it and live it, friends.
And if you’re still fortunate enough to have your grandfathers around, ask them yourself. It’ll be one of the best things you ever do for yourself. Of course, feel free to share your favorite words of wisdom from Grandpa with us!
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Think strategically
“Don’t stare at the campfire. You won’t have night vision if someone sneaks up on you.”
Well, you can’t argue with that logic. Also, this grandpa has clearly seen some things in his day and undoubtedly has a wealth of tactical knowledge to share.
Best advice I've received so far:
Don't stare at the campfire. You won't have night vision if someone sneaks up on you
-Grandpa
— way cool jr. (@BradyUSA) April 6, 2016
Don’t chase the proverbial cat
“Money is like a cat. If you chase the cat, you’ll never catch it. If you focus on what attracts the cat, like fish or similar, it will come to you.”
As businessman Ikenna Ronald Nzimora, whose grandpa gave him this life advice, put it, this is essentially a master class in marketing. Don’t chase the cat, y’all — entice the cat.
My GrandPa telling me about money. I was around 12 or 13 years old.
GrandPa: "Money is like a cat. If you chase the cat,you'll never catch it. If you focus on what attracts the cat, like fish or similar, it will come to you."
Today I realize it was a masterclass in marketing.
— Ikenna Ronald Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) April 24, 2018
Be true to the bar you set for yourself
“Never lower your standards. Anyone who is worth it will rise to meet them.”
This can be a difficult concept to wrap your head around when you’re preoccupied with pleasing people — which is why you should internalize it right now. No looking back.
I think one of the best advices my grandpa gave me was that to "never lower your standards, anyone who is worth it will rise to meet them"
— lexi ujczo (@lexi_ujczo) September 14, 2017
Action equals results
“Shoot the damn ball; you can’t make a basket bouncing it.”
Basketball advice or life advice? You be the judge. Because it sounds to us like Grandpa is saying you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take — on and off the court.
Grandpa's advice on basketball: "Shoot the damn ball, you can't make a basket bouncing it" ?
— Hannah Blake (@BlakeItORFakeIt) March 17, 2016
Wear your heart on your sleeve
“I’ve told her I love her every day.”
This is the life advice of a 93-year-old man on how he made it to 50 years of marital bliss. Simple, effective and oh-so-sweet — we’re officially crying.
My 93 year old Grandpa's advice for being married over 50 years, "I've told her I love her ever day".
— Abby Land (@OooBurnGood1Sun) November 27, 2016
Live a life of which you can be proud
“As you progress through life, if what you do and how you do it makes you proud, in a humble sort of way, no one or no circumstances will defeat you.”
Everyone needs a note like this from their grandpa as they’re about to embark on the complicated journey that is adulthood.
Ran across this note from my grandpa. I had just graduated from junior high. Pretty solid advice.#WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/7eqg5s8gBg
— Kelly AuCoin (@KellyAuCoin77) July 25, 2018
Actions speak louder than words
“Don’t ever judge a person by what they say, or what they don’t say. Wait, and judge them by what they actually do.”
Grandpa Gustav’s life advice? Let people prove themselves through action.
"Don't ever judge a person by what they say, or what they don't say. Wait, and judge them by what they actually do." Best advice my grandpa Gustav gave me.
— Dr. Uwe Stender (@UweStenderPhD) February 12, 2019
Find your tribe & live it up together
“Life’s too short not to have fun. And if they don’t want to have fun, then to hell with ‘em.”
Who wants to bet that this grandpa is always the life of the party? Anyone who’ll share that gem with his grandchild has to be the most fun at the family reunion.
Grandpa's advice to me: "life's too short not to have fun. And if they don't want to have fun, then to hell with em'" #amen
— Loren Vukovits (@lovukovits) October 24, 2015
Don’t make someone a priority if you’re only an option to them
“Never go out of your way over and over again for people who don’t appreciate you.”
Most of us have made this mistake at least once in our lives. Take it from Grandpa, though, and don’t make prioritizing the wrong people a pattern.
My grandpa always told me "never go out of your way over and over again for people who don't appreciate you." I can't thank him enough for his advice.
— logan straub (@Straub10Logan) March 27, 2018
Lead by example
“Your opinion is valuable, but you can’t force it on others. The only way you will inspire is by being the real alive positive example.”
Someone needed to hear this today. In fact, we’re fairly certain most of the internet could use the reminder.
Since I was a little kid, my grandfather used to tell me: "Your opinion is valuable, but you can't force it on others. The only way you will inspire is by being the real alive positive example". Thank you grandpa, such a precious piece of advice! pic.twitter.com/eTh5cZ1vgR
— Tareq Hadhad (@TareqHadhad) September 25, 2018
Live on your terms
“It’s your life, and it speeds by, so live it however you damn well please.”
A man who has been on this great big spinning rock for 91 years obviously knows a thing or two about learning to block out unwarranted opinions and live authentically.
Hung out with my 91 year old grandpa today. His advice for me? "It's your life, and it speeds by, so live it however you damn well please."
— Nicole Antoinette (@nic_antoinette) December 9, 2013
Define your perspective
“Life will make you bitter or it will make you better.”
Which will you choose? Because, as this grandad gently reminded his grandson, it is a choice.
Probably some of the best advice my grandpa has given me was that, “life will make you bitter or it will make you better” and the only one who decides that is me.
— brayden williams (@braydenleew) November 13, 2018
Remember why you’re working in the first place
“Never spend too much time in your life making a living that you forget to make a life.”
Living in a culture that glorifies work and fame and wealth and status, this is welcome (and much-needed) wisdom to embrace.
Today's advice from granddad: Never spend too much time in your life making a living, that you forget to make a life.
— Brandon Crowson (@CrowsonBrandon) October 14, 2014
Be a little bad sometimes
“When you have to choose between having fun and being good, go have fun.”
Granted, living like this all the time would probably court trouble. But when a 95-year-old grandpa tells you to be a little bad sometimes, you have to realize he’s looking back at a long life and probably wishing he’d done the same more often. You only live once, right?
Life advice from my 95 year old great grandpa:
"When you have to choose between having fun and being good, go have fun"
— Paige (@psangren) May 27, 2017
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Live with integrity
“Live your life so people show up to your funeral to praise your character, not to make sure you’re dead.”
FWIW, this grandpa’s other favorite kernel of truth to give out was “You’re not drunk unless you come home and smell the flowers printed on the Lino floor.” So, basically, he’s definitely a truth-sayer.
Best advice Grandpa ever gave me; Live your life so people show up to your funeral to praise your character, not to make sure you're dead.
— Terry O'Leary (@grow_dem_melons) January 22, 2013
You reap what you sow
“Life is like farming. Put in the work every day ‘round the clock, and one day you will reap the harvest.”
Focus on being the best version of yourself you can be. If Grandpa’s life advice is right, everything will fall into place accordingly.
Best advice my granddad ever gave was life is like farming. put in the work everyday round the clock, and one day you will reap the harvest
— Vasto Banco (@DiabeticDoe) March 18, 2017
Turn setbacks into set-ups
“Don’t take every event in life as negative, but take them as character-building.”
We’re all going to hit bumps in the road. It’s what we do with those potential setbacks that truly define us.
My late granddad gave me the best advice to live by. Don't take every event in life as negative, but take them as character building.
— Tim (@TCornish5) June 10, 2015
Fake it ‘til you make it
“If you can’t dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit.”
Not only is this fantastic life advice, but I’m also fairly certain I’ve found the perfect inscription for my tombstone.
Don’t wait to enjoy your life
“We work all our lives and then don’t get to enjoy retirement because we’re too old and not able. Take time for yourself now while you can.”
While not everyone has the ability to take time for themselves in big ways, the important takeaway from this grandpa’s advice is to be an active participant in your own life.
I've been off for nearly two years after a 20+ year grind. I've been following advice handed down to me from my grandpa, "we work all our lives and then don't get to enjoy retirement because we're too old and not able, take time for yourself now while you can"
— bryanwann (@bryanwann) April 7, 2019
Kindness matters
“Just be kind to people. Always be kind.”
It might just be the simplest advice you’ll ever receive — but it’s probably also the absolute best. Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. Shout it from the rooftops, Grandpa!
My grandfather turns 91 today. Just asked him about his best advice on life.
“Just be kind to people. Always be kind.”
Amen, grandpa.
— Jan Lauren Boyles (@JanLaurenB) May 11, 2019