Parental Advice Is Often Good

Growing up it almost seems natural that we are destined to ignore some of the advice that we receive from our parents.  It doesn’t matter what the advice is about, we have so many “important” things rattling around in our mind that a lot of good advice just sort of leaks out.

There is one bit of really sound advice that I received from my step-father, John T. (Jack) Brosnan, that sort of haunts me now and then because I totally disregarded it even though I often thought about it.

Jack did not care to fish and never hunted but he would drive me and a friend or 2 to a favorite fishing hole where he would spend the day relaxed, reading a novel while we fished.

Jack was a business man and card player by profession. He owned a tavern and ran card games in one of the rooms. He always dressed in a suit, white shirt and tie. Mom bought him some plaid Pendleton shirts that I don’t think he ever wore. He ended up giving them to me. I can’t recall Jack ever having a wrench in his hand.

One day he was driving me from Klamath Falls to the Little Deschutes River near Gilchrist when our 1947 Buick Super had a flat tire. Well, Jack had no idea what to do. Maybe walk to the nearest town for help or flag down a passing car?

James (Jim) Pugh, one of my best friends, was with us and he thought it was all pretty funny. We were about 14 or 15 at the time with Jim one year ahead of me. We got out of the car and Jim proceeded to change the tire for us with my help.

While changing the tire, Jim made some derogatory remark about Jack not even being able to change a tire. Of course, Jack overheard this.

After the tire was changed but before we got underway again, Jack said:

“I want to tell you something. I admit that I don’t know anything about a car. When something goes wrong with it, I take it to my mechanic. When something goes wrong with my body I go see my doctor. When I need legal advice, I go to my lawyer. When they want to have a little fun and play some poker, they come to me. That is what I do and I am good at it because that is all that I do.  Whatever you do in life, stick to it an don’t do anything else if you want to be successful”.

Wonderful words of parental wisdom that I seem to have totally ignored over the years. But then if I had done anything else but what I have done with my life I would not be the person I am today. Still, while I ignored the advice I would highly recommend this counsel to any young person wanting to be successful in life.

Filed under: Life Counsel

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