Who in your life have you or do you admire ?

[inej]

Is there anybody not necessarily your mom or dad who you have really listened to for advice through your life , it may have been teacher , friend, boss.Anybody spring to mind and what valuable piece of advice did they give you.The person i always used to look up to was my first boss when i was 17 he brought me out of my shell , and told me to look out for number 1. He also taught me the importance to stand up for what i believe in .I miss the old ******. Anymore ?

[flipflop104]

A teacher/friend was a big influence in my life when I was younger. She always used to tell me to make sure guys (or me) wear protection when doing anything sexually with them. For that I truly thank her (as I was quite promiscuous when I was younger). Last month I went to her 40th birthday party after not seeing each other for 12 years (xmas/birthday cards only)! She's ace!

Other than that, it's my parents and my gf (I'm "came out" almost 8 years ago and that is another reason why I'm eternally grateful for her advice) :o)

[dot.hawkes]

My Grandma Lumb, she told me never to take no for an answer.

[funkymoped]

my dear old dad.

"respect the position held by a person. the person has to earn your respect." the day an officer of the law told me to call him "sir" or he would take me to the local police station for dropping litter on waste ground !

i refused to call him sir and he let me go after picking the litter up...

was told this as a nipper and its lived with me ever since......

[mr-muddle]

Yoda in the film 'the last sith' said,

"You must learn to let go, of what you fear losing the most".

Hard advice, but good advice.

[noxlumos]

I would be lost without a wonderful man called Calumn who, when my own father was killed when I was seven, made it his business to watch over our family. He took me fishing, to the fair, helped me with school all the things a Dad should do but my own had not. He also listened to me tell him that my own Dad, his friend, had systematically physically abused me and supported me through some very dark times and he taught me how to be understanding and accepting of other people no matter what they have done. He told me not to marry my first wife ( I ignored him to my cost) and told me to marry my second (took his advice that time, thank God) and he's the greatest "Grandad" to my children I could hope for.He always told me to give people the freedom to be the best people they can be in the best way they can be it and to always strive to understand why people behave in the ways that they do and that's certainly worked for me with my kids. Eternally grateful to him.

[CompNut]

Noxlumos,
Calumn sounds a truly wonderful man, good friend and mentor, and how fortunate you were as a young lad to have him in your life just when you badly needed genuine support and kindness.
I'm sure you and your family have also been a great blessing to him, with your affection and appreciation.

Best wishes to you all.

[Greedyfly]

My mum used to have a friend who I hated - really detested. And during my teenage years I became worse than most teenagers mood wise, suffering from depression etc.. and one day although I cant remember what he said to me we had this huge argument where the basis was get your head out of your a**e and sort yourself out. I was so angry with him fir talking to me the way he did and I sulked and mulled on it for about a week then it hit me, he kinda gave me clarity of what I was doing. I am very grateful to him for THAT talk although I havent seen him since then he helped me alot.

[Garforthdave]

I've had the great pleasure to meet Ellen McArthur the seriously barking but beautiful yachtswoman. An inspiration to many. Should have won BBC Sports Personality instead of some cricket thing.

ALso a lad who lives not far from me, born with no legs from above the knees, only one arm and he's just taken up wheelchair basketball. Puts the rest of us to shame.

Dave