Timeless

Some things, some people are timeless. Some looks, some music are timeless. What makes them so? What is it about these things, these people, that are timeless. Think of Audrey Hepburn’s look, a classic pair of black leather slingbacks, a string of pearls, fine white china, a good cup of coffee, a crisp white dress shirt, leather cowboy boots. Some things last forever, are in style forever; they withstand the harsh tests of fashion trends, economics, the change of decades… time, the passing of time. Many timeless things are comforting to us, they are always there, have always been, will always be. Nature itself, the world around us can be considered timeless in its own way. The changing of the seasons, the tides, the rising and setting of the sun – these are things that have always been and always will be, comforting things, always there, always in style, always of importance in our world.

Recent events have brought me to the conclusion that there is one other thing that is timeless – good advice. A piece of good advice is something that never goes out of style. Advice in general can be rather transient, contemporary, ephemeral even, something that tells one what to do, what should be done in a certain time, a very specific set of circumstances. That is not to say that any of this type of advice is not good, but perhaps rather it is simply not something that could have been said twenty, fifty or one hundred years ago and will not be relevant twenty, fifty or one hundred years from now. Some of the best advice I have ever gotten, gotten in my short 26 years that is, is timeless, things I can see being said, considered and probably followed years ago as well as for years to come. Here are a few examples:

Always know the difference between being a shameless hussy and a harmless flirt.

Ladies, it does not matter what time, age, era, whatever, you are living in, this advice is something we should all listen to and take to heart. It also applies no matter what age you are, be you a shy young girl, a wild, blossoming teenager, a questioning, searching young woman, or even a mother, grandmother, leading your family as a matriarch and example. Every woman should act like a lady, knowing when to play the game and when to walk away, leaving a man wanting more, not knowing what he will get from you for certain. Now gals, I know that flirting is fun, and I have no problem admitting that I do it, but there is definitely a way to do it and get what you want, yet not letting a man get everything he wants and more, at least right away. Be flirty, have fun, leave a little something to the imagination, make him work for it. It will pay off in the end….

Treat people the way you would want to be treated.

As we go about our everyday lives there are always people that irk us, that rub us the wrong way. For whatever reason, whether it be our attitude problem that day, our short-fuse, our ignorance, whatever, we snap on others. We can be rude, mean, etc. and we don’t even think about it. Oftentimes we are caught up in our own issues to stop and think about how we would feel if we were in the other person’s shoes. We should always take the opportunity to take a step back, perhaps even two, and consider how we would want to be treated in that situation. It is definitely not always easy, in fact, is most often not easy at all, but we should try to treat others as we would want to be treated.

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

Okay, we have all heard this, probably during our elementary school days, but again, age does not matter when it comes to good advice. Every woman has her opinion and ladies, I am usually a big fan of letting them be heard, but there are some times, some situations, when keeping ones mouth shut can be to ones advantage. Sometimes it is the best move for your career, your relationships, etc. to zip your plump pink lips unless it is something positive that is about to make an appearance. There are of course situations in which it is best to open that sassy trap and let the world know what you have to say, but exercise caution. Sometimes saying nothing is the best speech you can give.

Always tell those you love how you feel about them.

This past weekend my grandparents celebrated their 50th anniversary, surrounded by their family and friends. It was a wonderful event, a wonderful weekend, full of love, laughter, and the sharing of 50 years of memories, the good times, the bad times, and everything in between. Our family met in Washington Park for pictures and after the big group all assembled, arranged themselves and said "cheese" many times, there was a moment that I stood there, just watching. I saw my grandparents, Oma and Opa, Jerry and Louise, look at each other with such love, the love and happiness of a couple together for 50 years, blending with the love and happiness seen on the faces of newlyweds. They are such a wonderful example of true love, of following your heart, of working together to build a family, a family built from love. One thing my Opa always does is kiss in threes. When he says goodnight to my Oma he always says he loves her and then gives her three kisses, always telling his kids and grandkids that good things come in threes. There is no doubt that my Oma and Opa love each other with their whole hearts, hearts that love has expanded to make room to love not only each other, but 4 children, their 4 spouses, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. I have no doubt that love will expand their hearts even more as our family contonues to grow. They both never waste a chance to say I love you, be it to each other, someone else in the family, or even a dear friend. Always share your feelings, your love. Never be ashamed of it. The people you love love to know you love them!

Timeless… standing the test of time… this is what we should aim for, in the way we act, the way we speak, the way we present ourselves, the ideas we share and bring to the world. Class and grace are timeless, as is the advice that helps us to live our lives this way. A good attitude, a friendly disposition and demeanor, a kind smile and gentle heart, all these are timeless… although don’t forget those beautiful black slingbacks or creamy string of pearls.

So ladies, what timeless advice have you been given, or have you given others? What can you imagine women still telling their daughters 100 years from now? Leave a comment and let me know.