Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Advice From Our Parents

 I stumbled across this the other day and thought it was worth sharing.  As most of you know, from 2000-2014, I was a journalist with the Pocahontas Star-Herald.  I would write news, sports, agri news, school news, take pictures, just pretty much anything my editor and boss, Anita Murphy needed me to do.

One weekly feature I did was "25 Questions."  I had a list of 25 questions made up, and every week, I had somebody different answer the 25 questions.  The questions were the same for everyone who participated.

One of the questions was, "what is the best advice your parents ever gave you?"  With several years of answers to sift through, one week in December 2008, I made a list of some the best advice the fine folks of Randolph County, Arkansas shared with me and used that as the week's 25 questions.

Going over this list, there are a couple of things that strike me.  One, is how sincere and positive the advice from the parents was and how timely it is in 2025m just as it was 15-20 years ago.  Secondly, as I read through them, I realized just how many of those who contributed are no longer with us.

For my Alabama friends and those outside of Randolph County, these names won't me much.  But hopefully the advice will.  Feel free to share with your kids.  

Be kind to each other.  Love all of you.

Dalton

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Best advice I ever received from my parents………..

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. – Bootsie Barre

Work hard and never quit. – Alonza Jiles

Treat others better than you want to be treated and always be honest and do what is right! – Angie Caldwell

Save for a rainy day, you never know what might happen tomorrow. – Angie Gifford

Don’t slump and don’t eat until you’re stuffed  (it’s OK not to clean your plate).  – Anita Murphy

Stay close to your brothers! – Ann Ring

Find the good in everyone. – Annette Williams

Take pride in my accomplishments, and be loyal. – Barbara Sisco

The best advice given has been that shown to me by the life they have lived before me. – Becky Kazee Alexander

Be honest and work hard, but have fun. – Ben DeClerk

We are but a shadow upon this earth, so cast a tall one while you are here. – Ben West

Love the Lord with all your heart and to have a friend is to be a friend. – Beth Waterworth

Always be honest, always give an honest day’s work, and always be willing to help others. – Betty Getson

Work hard and always be honest. – Chrissie Tanner

Do your best. – Bev Ducker

Don’t be in too much of a hurry. – Bill Endicott

My mom wasn't into giving advice.  She showed me by giving unconditional love. – Bobbie Lane

Don’t let someone else decide how you feel about yourself. – Brady Massey

Respect others. – Brent Earley

Pick an occupation you will enjoy doing. – Brent Ignico

Don't spend everything you make. – Brent Massey

If you start something, finish it.  Don’t quit. – Chad Chester

To always be straight with people, and to stand up for what you believe in. – Chad Mulligan

Be responsible. – Chandra McDowell

Put God first in your life. – Charlotte Heslip

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. – Chester Seawel

Remember the rewards of faith, the security of family, and the power of education. – Cindy Robinett

Remember always that God loves you every moment of every day. – CJ Johnson

Can’t never did anything. – Col. Roy Meeks

Don’t let people walk on you. – Connie Lemmons

Believe in myself. – Cyndi Coates

Finish what you start. – Dalton Sullivan

Never give up. – Dave Williams

Don't try, do. – David Byers

That I could do anything that I chose to do and be the best that I could be. – Debbie Foster

Be myself and love life, - Debbye Jarrett

Can’t never could. – Deshea Baxley

Believe in God. – Diana Dalton

Be considerate of others. – Diane Evans

Eat your vegetables. – Don Brown

Be good to all, man and animal, be fair and be helpful. – Don Waterworth

Do the very best you can, never do any project or job half way. – Don Wilson

It was not necessarily advice given, as it was life demonstrated. – Doris Sharp

Learn from your mistakes. – Doug Pratt

Always put God first and the rest will fall into place. – Dr. Amy Bradley

All choices have consequences. – Dr. Brent Holt

If I could learn to read really well, I could teach myself anything. – Dr. Kathleen Quinn

Live your life for Jesus Christ. – Eddie Jones

Trust in God. – Eric Young

Above all keep Christ in your life. – Fintan Baltz

Don’t be afraid of work. – Fred Hunter

Never judge someone by the color of their skin. – Gail Torok

Go to school, you’re too dumb to do anything else. – Gary Hagood

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. – Gary Wells

Pay attention. – George Pratt Jr.

Do your best! – Ginger Jackson

To always pursue my dreams. – Harold Bagwell

The world is mine, if I’m willing to help protect it. – Heather Hoey

I could do anything I set my mind to. – Jackie Salyards

To follow my dreams. – James R. Tinker

Put my faith in God. – Janis Mock

To be truthful at all times with myself and others. – Jann Delk

Under promise and over deliver. – Jason Nier

Hold on to that, it might be worth something someday. – Juanita Johnson

Do not ever do drugs!  Never ever! – Jennifer Reed

Don’t ever get credit cards. – Jesse Worsham

Live by the Ten Commandments. – Joanne Jansen

You won't ever get a hit unless you swing the bat. – Joey Pfeffer

Never talk bad about anyone. – Joniece Trammell

If they pay you 50 cents, give them a dollars worth of work and you will always have a job. – Joyce Radcliff

Get an education. – Judy Downs

Be honest and forgiving. – Judy Richardson

To thine own self be true. – Julie Courtney

I could accomplish anything if I set my mind to it and worked hard enough toward it. – Justin Dorsey

If God is for us, who can be against us. – Karen Burris

Think before you speak, what you think doesn’t have to be heard. – Karen Bebord

Be true to your word. – Karin Ward

To keep my priorities straight. – Dr. Karla Baltz

See things through.  Don't be tempted to do something else until you have fulfilled your obligation. – Kathy Bergman

You make a living by what you earn, you make a life by what you give. – Keith Futrell

Plan your work and work your plan. – Kelly Rose

Take time to stop and smell the roses. – Kelly Thompson

Always tell the truth. – Ken Difani

Respect your elders, don't rush decisions, & not to judge. – Kevin Barnes

Put God first, family second and everything else will fall into place. – Kevin Rose

Form large goals, take small steps. – Laveida Jones

Don’t worry.  The things that worry you the most, trouble you the least. – Lin Hatch

Remember your raising. – Linda Collins-Smith

Do not be scared to be yourself! – Lindsay Coe

Always try to find the good in others. – Lynne Hogan

This too shall pass. – Margo Johnson

Take pride in any job I do. – Marilyn Hogan

Never pass up the chance to meet new individuals. – Marty Cagle

Your reputation is important. It follows your name. – Melissa Kirk

All the things in the world mean nothing if you spend an eternity separated from God. – Mike Broyles

Do what you say and do it when you say you will. – Mike Dunn

Learn from the past, live in the present and plan for the future. – Mike Miller

Live faithfully as a Christian. – Mitch Walton

There are no free lunches. – Nelson Henderson

Be honest and kind. – Pam Rankin

Always show respect to everyone and treat everyone equally. – Randy Patterson

Honesty in all things. – Reba Hyde

Seek God's guidance. – Rhonda Ahrent

You've got a good head on your shoulder, use it. – Dr. Roger Johnson

Smile. – Dr. RoseMary Weaver

Nothing is free. – Sandy Hudson

Never give up. – Scott James

Most of the time what you are looking for is right in front of you. – Shane Pratt

Family is very important don’t forget to take time for them. – Shannon Fish

Never be too busy to help someone. – Sharon Alphin

Never be late. – Shawn Ashcraft

Show compassion. – Shawn Carter

Be a good person.  – Sherry Huskey

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. – Steve Bigger

Care about other people. – Steve Huddleston

Standing on my own two feet and that having an opinion and standing up for it is a good thing. – Steve Shults

Enjoy, but discipline your children. – Suzanne Chester

Work hard, get a college education, and always be proud of who you are. – Terry Dickson

Always do more than you are expected to do. – Tim Scott

You are responsible for what you do and how you are remembered. – Tom Baker

Earn your own way. - Tom Towell

Crying is healthy. – Tracy Radcliff

Provide for your family. – Wendell Kimbrough

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