In honor of Father’s Day we revisit our favorite words of wisdom from Dad.
Our dads taught us a lot growing up, and some of that wisdom for our well-being still sticks with us today. We asked Middle Tennesseans to recall those good-for-you gems that have helped them navigate life’s tough spots.
Hard work
Our Southern fathers have taught us the importance of having a strong work ethic.
They often use this adage: “It doesn’t matter if you’re a ditch digger or a CEO, be the best ditch digger or CEO you can be. ” Part of working hard means giving it your all. That’s why our fathers like to quote Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John Wooden: “If you don’t have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?”
Cash flow
Just about every dad has something to say about money. Obviously, “money doesn’t grow on trees.” But our dads also made it known that money doesn’t necessarily buy happiness and that material things aren’t that important. Here are some great words of wisdom for the cash-strapped: “Don’t envy those who seem to have more than you. They likely just have more debt.”
Relationships with significant others
Fishing analogies have come in handy for our dads when they’ve had to caution or console us about relationships. They tell us, “There are plenty of other fish in the sea.”
Life experience
The old saying goes, “There is no shame in failing. There is shame in not trying.”
Our dads have pushed us to be our best, and that sometimes means taking risks like being assertive, applying for a better job, singing at an open mic, running a longer-distance race or even getting out of a relationship that is no longer right. When we’ve tried something and the result has not met our expectations, our dads have told us that we’ve still gained valuable experience.
What was your dad’s go-to saying? Share it in the comments below!
