Of all the “ifs” and “buts” we face

none are more powerful

that the ones coming from those

who provide us

with living tutelage

and life lessons.

At first, we may pretend

we don’t listen to them,

we, in fact,

may not do so at first.

But somehow along the way,

hopefully sooner

more often than later,

those words of wisdom

almost always,

finally, register.

And as we sort everything else out,

it is what was once wisely said,

what may come to us at the right time,

hopefully guiding, maybe even preventing,

or even after the fact,

helping us know what to do,

perhaps even how to mend,

for the next time around.