Even A Fish Wouldn't Get Into Trouble If He Kept His Mouth Shut

When I was a young girl, life advice was handed out in quotes. My mom was the queen of old sayings and as I've grown they've all stuck with me.

Guiding my behavior and helping me make sense of the world.

However none of them stood out as much as the one and only saying my father ever shared.

Words immortalized on a small wooden sign.

Even a fish wouldn't get caught if he kept his mouth shut.

It was his favorite.

I don't remember him quoting it often, but as a man of few words, it was clear it was his mantra.

A small wooden sign used to hang in his workshop as a reminder to all who read it.

And we read it often.

Placed above his workshop in the area that also housed our bicycles, basketball, tennis rackets and the car, it was impossible to ignore.

For years, these words rang in my head. I would even picture that cute, crooked wooden plaque, whenever I was confronted with the opportunity to gossip.

However, that sign disappeared when my mom sold my childhood home and, to be honest, I'd forgotten all about it.

Until one day, my husband and I were at a yard sale and I spotted an identical version and I grabbed it.

I think it was a quarter.

Suddenly a whole host of memories came flooding back, memories of my dad, of growing up and of all the wisdom, good old fashioned common sense, never go out of style, advice that was handed down to me in the form of pithy sayings.

I don't know who came up with all of them, but they never seem to go out of style. Like I tell my kids, old saying are old sayings because they've stood the test of time.

Just as true today as they were when they were originally spoken.

I'm so glad that it's in my possession and that the words are in my brain, again. The sentiment is very true and the words are a lovely reminder of my dad and his wisdom.

Of course, coming from an old world family...two parents who were first generation Americans and two sets of grandparents who were steeped in their respective cultures, lots of these sayings were always being thrown around.

Yet for some reason, this one always seemed to stick with me.

Great advice for any time.

Do you have any pithy sayings from childhood that are stuck on your head?