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
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Reader's Digest India.
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Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Reader's Digest India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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From the King's Table to Street Food: A Food History of Delhi
Pushpesh Pant, one of India’s pre-eminent food writers, is back with a comprehensive food history of the capital.
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You don't have to suffer, as long as you take two important steps
The Best And Worst Diets For Your Heart
Dozens of diets are touted as ‘best’, but it’s easy to lose track of the fact that healthy eating needs to be about overall wellness, not just weight loss.
ME & MY SHELF
Journalist Sopan Joshi has worked in a science and environment framework for nearly three decades. His book Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango (Aleph Book Company) synthesizes the sensory appeal of India's favourite fruit with its elaborate cultural roots and natural history. He writes in English and Hindi.
SWITCHED
In 1962, nurses at a small Canadian hospital sent home two women with the wrong babies. Then, 50 years later, their children discovered the shocking mistake.
ECHOES OF THE PAST
A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT BARABAR CAVES IN BIHAR REVEALS A SURPRISING CONNECTION TO A LITERARY CLASSIC
Fathers of the Bride
A young woman finds a unique way to honour the many men who helped her survive her childhood
Fiction's Foresight
British-Bangladeshi author Manzu Islam's works reveal startling parallels to recent political upheavals in Bangladesh, begging the question: Besides helping us make sense of our world, can stories also offer a glimpse into the future?
It Happens ONLY IN INDIA
The Divine Defence Picture this: A tractor in Rajasthan‘s Banswara district,a group of loan agents closing in to seize it and the defaulting farmer and his family standing by.
