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I was having lunch with a friend the other day, and she appeared to be upset about something. Apparently, she ran out of money and couldn’t pay for the electric bill that was due.
I suggested the previous month when she came to me about being broke, that perhaps she should hold off on her French manicures and lattes at expensive coffee shops until she gets caught up financially. She just nodded her head in agreement, yet here we are.
I have noticed that a lot of folks disregard good advice, only to complain about the same issues later. So my question is, why do we even give advice?
God gave advice to Adam and Eve, which they didn’t take, either. They had one job, and it was not to eat an apple.
Eve didn’t listen and basically did her own thing, probably feeling as though she didn’t need anyone else managing her life. Adam should have been a stronger husband, laying down the rules to back God up, but he didn’t – probably because he wanted a little romance from Eve later that evening and didn’t wanna tick her off. They both went rogue and ignored the good Lord’s advice, and now look where we are.
They did, however, take the advice of a slimy-looking creature without legs and ill intent. No apple is worth that kind of trouble.
I’ve discovered that folks will often take bad advice over good instruction. The question is, why?
Another friend of mine had a birthday party for her toddler son several months ago and mentioned she was hiring a clown for entertainment. I sat her down and explained why that was a terrible idea and to rent a bounce house instead.
For starters, fully grown adults are terrified of clowns. They have a reputation for a reason, but my friend chose to invite the clown anyway – and what a nightmare that was.
The baby screamed in shear terror at the sight of him – actually, there were several adults who screeched their chairs backward and left the party in fear. I told her it was a bad idea, but she didn’t take my advice and now wonders why the kid can’t sleep through the night. She should have saved the fee and just let the baby watch the movie It.
People don’t take the advice of loved ones, teachers or doctors. I feel bad
for life coaches, their whole job is to tell folks what to do in order to better themselves.
Humans are wrapped up in the delusions of thinking they are in total control of their lives, so they often don’t want to hear someone suggest the possibly of a better way of doing things.
Good sound advice is meant to better the life or circumstances of another, but there are times and people you probably shouldn’t take advice from.
My Uncle Vinny is one such person nobody should listen to. He has $37 in his bank account, once tossed a half-frozen turkey into a fryer and thinks it’s OK to take the money flying around from an overturned Brinks money truck.
Now that I think of it, I don’t even take all of my own advice when talking to myself.
When I was in the grocery store a few days ago, I suggested to myself that I forego buying Cheetos as I was eating them too often – my scale said so. Not only did I purchase them, but I got two big bags of the treat with an unhealthy two-for-one coupon.
Anngee Quinones-Belian of Murphy is a staff correspondent for the Cherokee Scout. Her humor column runs every other week. Email her at anngeeq@gmail.com.