Sandra Piddock
Legacy Member
Being a parent is a big responsibility - you're in charge of the health and welfare of another human being, and that person relies on you for their moral welfare as well. It's a challenging task to instil decent values into your children, and perhaps the best way to do this is to draw on your own experiences, and what you learned from the people you admired as you grew up. Here are the life principles that I try to live by.
You don't have to be the best at everything, but you must be the best that you can be
My mother's favourite saying was, 'If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.' She understood that not everyone can be an expert at everything, but if you give it your best shot, nobody can ask for more.
Whatever I do in life, whether it's cooking a meal, writing an article or teaching my granddaughter to read, I do it to the best of my abilities. If you try hard with the little things, tackling the big things comes naturally. It's not necessary to be a winner - aim to be an achiever.
Say something good, or say nothing
Nobody in this world is perfect - we're only human, after all. My mother had another favourite saying - 'Anyone who never made a mistake, never made anything,' and if we keep this in mind, we can be more tolerant when people mess up. Praise the successes of those around you, but be careful how you criticise.
Say something positive, but instructive, such as, 'I like your original viewpoint on that, but it would be so much more convincing if you backed up your argument with expert sources and developed some of the points more fully.' Original thought is acknowledged, but you've also made the point that statements need to be backed up and expanded on.
Be honest with everyone - especially yourself
The truth will emerge in the end, and when it does, you may lose the trust of those you love, so never lie, and always be ruthlessly honest with yourself. For example, if you indulge in a passionate affair because you crave excitement, acknowledge that it was your decision - don't blame your husband's drinking. He's responsible for his actions, and you're responsible for yours.
These life principles have been my guide, and they can be applied to any and every situation. That's why they work for me, and why they should also work for you.
You don't have to be the best at everything, but you must be the best that you can be
My mother's favourite saying was, 'If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.' She understood that not everyone can be an expert at everything, but if you give it your best shot, nobody can ask for more.
Whatever I do in life, whether it's cooking a meal, writing an article or teaching my granddaughter to read, I do it to the best of my abilities. If you try hard with the little things, tackling the big things comes naturally. It's not necessary to be a winner - aim to be an achiever.
Say something good, or say nothing
Nobody in this world is perfect - we're only human, after all. My mother had another favourite saying - 'Anyone who never made a mistake, never made anything,' and if we keep this in mind, we can be more tolerant when people mess up. Praise the successes of those around you, but be careful how you criticise.
Say something positive, but instructive, such as, 'I like your original viewpoint on that, but it would be so much more convincing if you backed up your argument with expert sources and developed some of the points more fully.' Original thought is acknowledged, but you've also made the point that statements need to be backed up and expanded on.
Be honest with everyone - especially yourself
The truth will emerge in the end, and when it does, you may lose the trust of those you love, so never lie, and always be ruthlessly honest with yourself. For example, if you indulge in a passionate affair because you crave excitement, acknowledge that it was your decision - don't blame your husband's drinking. He's responsible for his actions, and you're responsible for yours.
These life principles have been my guide, and they can be applied to any and every situation. That's why they work for me, and why they should also work for you.
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