100 pieces of advice a woman should know, remember and pass on…

We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don’t follow when it damages those who take us at our word. ~ Adlai Stevenson

Passing on good advice to other women is so important, and I have been thinking of what good advice to pass on to my niece Caroline who is now 14, it’s been my job to do this, since her mom passed away. This list of “100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on” is a work in progress, and I hope that when the time is right it will serve her well as she transitions from her teen years into adulthood. I think it’s a good list to reflect upon, and remember some important advice…..

Part of the reason [motherly advice] bugs us as daughters is because our mothers are so powerful in our lives. They loom like giants. The reason mothers keep at it is because they’re so powerless. They cannot get you to do what is so obvious to them you should do. ~ Deborah Tannen

100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on

1. Always judge people by their ACTIONS NOT THEIR WORDS.
2. BE KIND, most importantly to yourself.
3. LIVE IN THE MOMENT, don’t waste your time on would have, should haves.
4. Don’t fear FAILURE – it will provide the most important life lessons.
5. LISTEN…..
6. HELP THOSE who are less fortunate.
7. GRIEVING can last a moment or a lifetime – it’s OK.
8. DON’T GOSSIP.
9. BE PASSIONATE.
10. SHAKE HANDS FIRMLY – it shows confidence.
11. BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR BODY – no matter what the women’s magazines say.
12. Be able to beat the crap out of any man – to PROTECT YOURSELF.
13. Know that for EVERY ACTION there is a REACTION.
14. Have a POINT A VIEW.
15. DON’T TRY AND CHANGE ANYONE, acceptance is part of love.
16. Know how to ACCEPT HELP and say THANK YOU.
17. WHEN IN DOUBT – ASK.
18. KNOW HOW TO USE POWERTOOLS and regular tools.
19. KNOW HOW TO SHOP A SALE.
20. LOVE YOUR FAMILY, you can’t pick them, they are part of who you are.
21. Get someone else to CHANGE YOUR FLAT TIRE.
22. BE GRACIOUS – even when you get a hideous gift from your grandmother.
23. GO FOR WHAT YOU WANT, don’t wait to be offered.
24. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY, it’s OK to be different, embrace it.
25. DO ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN if necessary, and be OK with being alone.
26. PEOPLE ARE NOT MIND READERS …..especially NOT men.
27. BE FEARLESS.
28. MOST MEN WANT TO BED YOU. Men think about sex 13 times a day, while women only 5 times day – see what I mean.
29. THINK CRITICALLY and be able to discern biases and basic assumptions.
30. SAY “NO” – WITH FORCE.
31. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
32. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING – take the time to look at things from both sides.
33. IT’S OK TO DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE, do so politely and convincingly.
34. REMAIN CALM and aware during a crisis.
35. YOUR HEART WILL BE BROKEN, but time heals all wounds.
36. When a love affair is over – you can’t go back to being “JUST FRIENDS”.
37. YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, a one of a kind creation.
38. ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BLACK DRESS on hand – it can save you!
39. When YOU ASK A QUESTION, ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR THE ANSWER.
40. CONFIDENCE IS SEXY - if a man doesn’t see that, he is not right for you.
41. YOU WILL GET OLD - own and admire every line and wrinkle.
42. Don’t say I’M SORRY” OR I LOVE YOU, unless you really mean it.
43. BE CENTERED, and when you feel off center, learn how to get back on track.
44. SEX IS OK, as long as you are in a caring, MONOGAMOUS relationship.
45. IF YOU DON’T ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT, the answer is always NO.
46. DON’T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU READ.
47. GO FOR YOUR DREAMS – at any age.
48. BUILD YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM - it’s important in case of an emergency.
49. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN when you help someone else.
50. DON’T WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. Be assertive. Interrupt!
51. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU CAN’T.
52. DON’T LET REJECTION OR CRITICISM DETROY YOU. Learn and move on
53. TAKE RISKS IN LOVE…..
54. NERDS NEED LOVING TOO. Look for a good man with a good heart, who is keen, clean and not mean, and generous in all things material and spiritual.
55. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, move on.
56. SUCESS IS NOT FOREVER, you have to keep working hard to maintain it.
57. DON’T MISLEAD OR LIE  – it is a bad road to take.
58. LONG-TERM LOVE IS MORE EASILY FOUND WITH A FRIEND. 
59. Marry someone of a similar background, and with the SAME CORE VALUES.
60. Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you, CHEATERS ARE NOT KEEPERS.
61. People respond positively to LOVING, NOT NEEDING.
62. ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST, even when you go to the supermarket.
63. Know that EVERYTHING in life is negotiable.
64. Always bring your “A” GAME.
65. LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION, it’s your internal alarm system.
66. Always keep your DOORS LOCKED at home and in the car.
67. NEVER ACT LIKE A MAN to get what you want, use your feminine power, it wont make you weak.
68. SMILE, to show joy or amusement, not to please others.
69. NEVER GO AGAINST YOUR CORE VALUES.
70. There is a PRICE TO PAY for everything
71. NOTHING AND NO ONE IS PERFECT. Even Prince Charming has bad breath in the morning.
72. ADMIT MISTAKES, make amends and move on.
73. Know how TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT - always say “thank you”.
74. DON’T BELIEVE YOUR OWN PRESS – good or bad.
75. SELL YOURSELF  – no one can do it better than you!
76. IT’S OK TO CRY. My good friend Juliette says tears gets rid of excess salt
77. BE AUTHENTIC, it’s better to be a real version of yourself than an imitation of someone else.
78. SET YOUR OWN AGENDA and stick to it.
79. BREAK THE RULES (NOT THE LAW), AND MAKE YOUR OWN RULES.
80. DO THE UNEXPECTED, don’t let others expectations rule your behavior.
81. BE UNFORGETTABLE, in a good way.
82. QUESTION EVERYTHING – but don’t waste too much time on unninportant lies
83. Learn to CONTROL YOUR MOOD - don’t stay angry or sad.
84. PROJECT STRENGTH with your body language – stand up straight!
85. KNOW HOW TO MAKE A LIVING, doing a few different things.
86. PERFECTION ISN’T THAT GREAT, remember it’s OK to draw outside the lines.
87. BE CREATIVE in everything you do.
88. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF, before taking care of others, put on your oxygen mask first.
89. YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING and that’s OK.
90. YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING, let go.
91. When buying HIGH HEELS AND BOOTS buy a size larger.
92. CORRECT METHOD FOR PUTTING ON A BRA, lean over and grab the side of your breast until it fits properly in your bra cup repeat on both sides.
93. STAY HEALTHY, it’s your responsibility.
94. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH A WOMANIZER, he’s too busy chasing girls.
95. In a relationship you must PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PARTNER.
96. Learn to apply MAKE-UP WITHOUT A MIRROR.
97. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, feed it when it’s hungry, let it rest when it is tired.
98. BE GRATEFUL.
99. LAUGH AT YOURSELF…… we all make blunders, no one is perfect.
100. WAIT FOR THE REAL THING…. NEVER SETTLE.

If you have more advice to add please do so in the comments – I would love to include it in my list!

Don’t follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind that the counsel is wise. ~ Joan Rivers

Related posts:

1. What I learned (and didn’t) about leading as a woman in Business School
2. Marketing advice from successful entrepreneurs
3. My jobs search or The Art of War
4. 100 Grants, Loans & Scholarships for Women
5. Working Mother – 100 Best Mom-Friendly Companies