[Ally Castillo]

General Discussion Thread 06.05.2025​

Image Credit: Steve Johnson/Pexels

Why, hello there, GrayViners! Ally here, back in your inbox to keep you company this lovely Thursday morning. We’re cruising toward the first weekend of June (time sure flies, doesn’t it?), but before we shift into full-on rest mode, I’ve got a little question to get you thinking: What’s a piece of advice you heard when you were younger that you didn’t believe—but now you get? I’d love to read all of it, so share it below!

Mine is “Take your time”. It’s a simple reminder from my dad, and I often found myself rolling my eyes at him every time he said it. Now that I’m older, I know what he means.

Or, if you have something else you'd like to share—whether it’s a cool fact you just learned, a funny story, or something that’s been bothering you—feel free to comment them down, too! This General Discussion Thread is created just for you, so feel free to engage with your fellow members!

Now, what's on YOUR mind today?

 

[liatbd]

Don't sit too close to the TV. You'll go blind.

 

[lindadominguez]

Believe in yourself
Trust your intuition
Breathe

 

[patpickett19]

Time flies

 

[Gayle B.]

1. Don’t make faces like that or your face will stay that way forever! Lol
2. If you swallow watermelon seeds you will grow them in your tummy! As if
3. If you don’t clean your ears you will grow potatoes in them. In addition, you will need to have them dug out of your ears. Ouch

 

[GaryBlake]

Pace yourself!!

 

[Marilea]

Don't sit too close to the TV. You'll go blind.

Yes! Mom said that!

 

[Marilea]

A penny saved is a penny earned!

 

[Arkie98]

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Telling me not to judge people by how they may look

 

[tennis]

I married a farmer. I became a farmer, I unloaded 1000 lbs of 50-60 lbs of horse feed. I filled the planter with 50 lb bags of seed corn. I worked in the hay field loading a wagon with hay bales and stacked them in the barn. People said you will pay for that, when you get older. I am , I have a bad back and my knees and hips are warn out. Did I listen NO. Now I wish that I had. But I love my farm and being able to do all of that when younger.

 

[bobbibonn]

Just wait til you have kids

 

[Hazeleyes]

My father used to say he would pay us 60 minutes an hour to do whatever it was that needed to be done.
When I sprained my ankle he said walk it off, don’t baby it.

 

[TriciaR]

Don't sit too close to the TV. You'll go blind.

Thanks so much for sharing this classic @liatbd ! It’s funny how many of us heard that growing up—usually while we were completely glued to the screen! While it might not literally make you go blind, we now know that staring at screens for too long can give your eyes a workout they didn’t ask for. Maybe our parents were onto something after all! Did you ever end up with a favorite show you just had to sit close to?

 

[TriciaR]

Believe in yourself
Trust your intuition
Breathe

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful advice @lindadominguez . It sounds simple, but those three little reminders—believe, trust, and breathe—can be incredibly powerful. Funny how we often brush them off when we're younger, only to realize later how much strength they hold. Have there been moments in your life where trusting your intuition really paid off?

 

[TriciaR]

Time flies

Thank you for sharing this timeless gem @patpickett19 ! It’s amazing how those two little words—time flies—become so much more real as the years go by. When we’re younger, time feels endless… then suddenly decades have flown past in a blink! Is there a moment you look back on now and think, “Where did the time go?”

 

[TriciaR]

1. Don’t make faces like that or your face will stay that way forever! Lol
2. If you swallow watermelon seeds you will grow them in your tummy! As if
3. If you don’t clean your ears you will grow potatoes in them. In addition, you will need to have them dug out of your ears. Ouch

Thanks for the laugh—and the memories @Gayle B. ! These are absolute childhood staples! It’s amazing how seriously we took them at the time… terrified of sprouting watermelons or waking up with a potato patch behind our ears! And the face-staying-that-way threat? Legendary parenting move. Did you ever actually believe any of them for a while? Or were you the kid who called their bluff?

 

[TriciaR]

Pace yourself!!

Thank you for sharing this powerful reminder @GaryBlake ! "Pace yourself” sounds so simple—but it can be one of the hardest things to learn, especially when we’re full of energy and eager to do everything right now. Over time, we start to understand that slow and steady often wins the race… and saves a lot of stress along the way! Was there a moment in life when this advice really clicked for you?

 

[TriciaR]

A penny saved is a penny earned!

Thanks for sharing this classic bit of wisdom @Marilea ! “A penny saved is a penny earned” might’ve sounded boring when we were younger—but wow, it starts to make so much sense over time. Saving little by little really does add up, especially when you look back and realize how far a bit of discipline can take you! Have you always been a saver, or did this one grow on you over the years?

 

[TriciaR]

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Telling me not to judge people by how they may look

Thank you for sharing such meaningful advice @Arkie98 ! “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is one of those sayings we hear early on, but it really sinks in with life experience. It’s a powerful reminder that everyone has a story, and you never truly know what someone’s going through just by appearances. Was there a time this advice really shifted your perspective on someone?

 

[TriciaR]

I married a farmer. I became a farmer, I unloaded 1000 lbs of 50-60 lbs of horse feed. I filled the planter with 50 lb bags of seed corn. I worked in the hay field loading a wagon with hay bales and stacked them in the barn. People said you will pay for that, when you get older. I am , I have a bad back and my knees and hips are warn out. Did I listen NO. Now I wish that I had. But I love my farm and being able to do all of that when younger.

Thank you so much for sharing your story @tennis —it really paints a vivid picture of a life full of strength, dedication, and love. It’s amazing what our bodies can do when we’re younger, and how easy it is to push through without thinking about the toll it might take later. It sounds like you worked incredibly hard, and while you're feeling the wear and tear now, the pride you have in what you accomplished truly shines through. Your farm life sounds full of grit and heart—do you have a favorite memory from those busy days out in the field?