One of the few constants people encounter in their lives is advice. As children or as adults, we receive so much of it—some from the most unexpected corners—that it often becomes difficult for us to sift the valuable from the worthless. For the few who have struck it lucky, the experience has been inspiring and potentially life-changing. Reader’s Digest looks at a selection of the best pieces of advice our readers have received and the difference it has made to their lives.
90 per cent of success is just showing up
Hindi was a nightmare for me— I particularly dreaded the exams. On the day of my Hindi class-12 board exams, I panicked and refused to take it. My mother sat me down and calmly said, “Darling, just go, write your name, and the date. Then, read the question paper—if you still think you don’t know anything, come right back. But fill in your details so that the examiners know that you made an attempt to show up.” Her words inspired me and I managed to score 60 per cent in the subject. —Susan Muchhala, Mumbai
Develop your unique strength
Many years ago, a fellow passenger on a train gave me the best advice of my life. Although his bearded face is now hazy, I distinctly remember his words—“By dint of your application, you must so develop your unique strength that people will remember you primarily for an outstanding feature of your personality; even overlooking some of your flaws. The koel is remembered for its melodious voice, its ordinary looks notwithstanding. The peacock, on the other hand, grabs the limelight for its attractively coloured feathers, its raucous voice notwithstanding. —P. V. Raghu, New Delhi
Learn from your setbacks
Esta historia es de la edición April 2020 de Reader's Digest India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2020 de Reader's Digest India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
THE UNBELIEVABLE MR RIPLEY
The creator of Believe It or Not had an insatiable curiosity about strange and astonishing facts
HE OPENED UP THE ARC TIC
\"You don't just sit and wait for adventure to come,\" famed polar explorer Knud Rasmussen liked to explain.\"You go out and make it happen!\"
Discovering Babasaheb
This Dalit history month—which also marks the 134\" birth anniversary of Dr B. R. Ambedkar, we recount four momentous incidents from his life
Lion in the Living Room
Five decades after two young men brought a playful cub into their London home, the tale has touched a whole new generation
The Many Roles of SUNIL DUTT
Through many personal tragedies, this favourite matinee idol finds strength and solace in helping others
AGATHA CHRISTIE MURDER BY THE BOOK
More widely read than any other English writer, she baffled the world with masterly tales of murder and remained something of a mystery herself
THE DAY WE MADE Flying History
Ona sunny September day in 1913, the author set three world records ina homemade flying machine
THE COMMANDO WITH THE TATTOO
Ganesh Dhangde was just six years old when he got lost. Twenty years later, his mother had a visitor
MARILYN: HER MAGIC LINGERS ON
The real Marilyn Monroe was nobody you'd look at twice—unless she wanted you to
I Think, Therefore, I Spam...
...has become the way forward for too many e-mail pests. Here's how I deal with them every single day