Anecdotes & Advice, Retrospect Options

[fameONE]

We've all had something happen to us in life that we could learn from. It doesn't have to be tragic or unfortunately, but what has happened in your life that warranted the best advice you ever recieved? What was the advice?

When I was 14, I got off the trolley in Camden, NJ, with a bulky MP3 player, a UNC Jordan throwback, and the baby blue and white Jordan I's. I got held up at gunpoint. I told my cousin about it and he said, "that's what you get for being a pretty boy. Dress for the weather, and the environment, lil' n*gga."

Outstanding advice.

[superstitious]

This is probably going to sound very simple and a bit trivial, but my grandmother used to tell me, "pretty is what pretty does."

I was always insecure about my appearance and it didn't help that I was considered "odd" by most people (including the majority of my family). I was a quirky kid with quirky habits who was chubby. My mom barely scrapped by financially and I was perpetually teased and made fun of.

Whenever I would have a day when I just felt like the most ugly thing in the universe, by grandmother would tell me, "pretty is what pretty does." She gave me inspiration and confidence with that little phrase and taught me so much about kindness, respect for others and that I was beautiful no matter what I wore, no matter what my hobbies were (I liked bugs and performing little science experiments, for example) or what I looked like.