The Best Advice

The best advice
is not to give advice.
Nobody really wants it,
even if they ask you for it,
and they really, really 
don't want it unsolicited.
Nobody really listens to it.
Good or bad, advice
usually goes in one ear
and out the other.

Sometimes that's understandable.
Few of us can claim the exact experiences;
even when advice is well-meant,
the best we can do is empathize.
We can't blame them for thinking 
we have no clue what we're talking about.

There are times when our experiences
have given us unique insight that can be helpful,
but too often the person on the receiving end
has emotionally closed the doors 
and locked all the windows.
Trying to break through 
without doing more damage
is impossible.
They have to be open
or it's never going to happen.

Whether it's something as insignificant
as what to wear or what's best on the menu,
to vitally important life choices,
in the end your advice doesn't matter.
We each make our own decisions.
If things fall short,
forget about should have dones,
help pick up the pieces or move on.

The best advice 
is not to give advice,
but you're probably 
not going to take 
my advice anyway.
Why should you?
Half the time, I don't.

~Elise Skidmore ©2025