30 Things I've Learned: #23

-Advice gets tainted over the years

A friend of mine was recently going through a relationship struggle. She asked for my advice. I gave it to her. Then very quickly I followed up with, "but remember, my advice comes from my experience which may or may not apply in this instance. I'm only as good as my own life lessons".  

I love talking to people who have been through things. Hard things. Really tough shit. I'm fascinated by others life experiences and love talking with them about this. But I've also learned that their experiences are what fuels their response to my own. Sometimes it's spot on and other times it isn't. It doesn't make what they're saying wrong, it just makes it not applicable to my circumstance.  

One of my favorite yoga teachers here in SF always says "I'm only as good as the teachers I've learned from".  I think the same goes for advice.  

I will gladly give advice, but there is always an asterisk next to it. This was my experience. Do the same or do the exact opposite. But I am a firm believer in people finding their own way.

I am only as good as my own life lessons. You are only as good as yours. Together we might know everything. 

Or nothing.