Long before we turned to Google, Siri, or Alexa for advice, we sought out Grandma. Her tips, tricks, and truisms weren’t based on search results—they were the product of a life well-lived, and many of us continue to rely on Grandma's guidance as adults. Here, eleven women share the best advice they ever received from their grandmothers and how her words of wisdom helped shape who they are today. 

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‘Enjoy Life'

grandma enjoying life
Lucia Lambriex/Getty

“Grandma spent decades traveling all over the world. Now that she's older, she spends most of her time in her sunroom, watching the birds outdoors, surrounded by mementos from her travels. She told me, ‘It doesn't make sense to me when people hoard their money and don't spend time enjoying what life has to offer when they're young. Live life when you can instead.’ While this thinking can appeal to my worst impulsive instincts, it's also inspired me to be present in the moment. I can enjoy things as they happen, big or small, without feeling the sorrow that might otherwise occur...like how a bride might feel the day after her wedding. I always know there is something else to look forward to, even if I don't know what it is yet.” - Lisa Bigelow

Related: My 67-Year-Old Grandma Was The First Woman To Hike The Appalachian Trail Solo

‘You’re Beautiful, No Matter What'

“When I was going through my awkward phase as a child, Nana told me, ‘You’re beautiful no matter what anyone says. Look in the mirror and say, ‘I am beautiful,’ until you believe it.’ Sure enough, it worked. She really taught me a lot about self-esteem during the so-called ‘ugly years.’” - Jennifer Gibbs

'Manners Really Do Matter'

“My grandmother was a stickler for etiquette—she gave my sister and me the book Tiffany's Table Manners for Teenagers when we were little—and she made us follow strict rules at her table. So I guess her best piece of advice would be: Don't put the butter directly from the butter dish onto your piece of bread. Use a butter knife to put it from the butter dish onto the side of your plate, then your own knife to put it onto your roll.

Related: 10 Habits Of People Who've Lived To Be 100

I know it sounds silly, but she really did treat everything that way, and I think of how important etiquette is today and how many people lack it. I’m glad I was taught at a young age that you should always hold yourself up to high etiquette standards, even if nobody is watching. Through my 20s, I found myself in lots of fancy dinner settings—I was an editor and was invited to events with celebrities and other powerful people—and I never had to worry about looking like I didn't belong. That alone gave me confidence that I probably wouldn't have had otherwise. You just sit a little taller when you feel like you can handle a situation.” - Alice Oglethorpe

'Women Should Stick Together And Never Settle'

“My grandmother has never really traveled and won’t get on a plane to visit me in New York City. But she does make time to remind me that I’m special, I’m smart, and I should never settle. She doesn't rush me to get married, as some Southern grandmothers do, but instead asks me to show her ‘the Snapchat’ and reminds me to keep living a happy life. She’s taught me that no matter where you come from or what you've experienced, you should support other women and their paths.”- Lindsay Tigar

Related: 12 Things Highly Successful People Do Before Bed

'Do What Makes You Happy'

The best advice my lovely grandmother used to say to me was, 'Dear, you must do what makes you happy!' Whenever I’d think about doing something, she would always ask me, 'Will doing that make you happy?’ Throughout my life, her advice has impacted many of my key life decisions, including when I decided to leave a corporate marketing career that I didn't enjoy to start teaching yoga retreats all over the world. Today, working as a healer, I inspire women to follow their hearts so that they can create and live the life of their dreams. I feel very grateful that my grandmother shared her great advice with me. It truly changed my life!” - Katrina Love Senn, author of Losing Weight Is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally.

'Take Care Of Your Skin'

Here is the best advice my grandmother ever told me (circa 1968): Avoid the sun and use Ponds Cold Cream. I am a board-certified dermatologist. After 25 years of practice, I can tell you this: Sunshine (UV rays) is the most common cause of skin ‘aging.’ Although my grandmother's advice was to avoid the sun, I advise folks to wear sunscreen, too. Also, a well-formulated moisturizer, like Ponds Cold Cream, can temporarily increase water content of skin, thereby temporarily decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” - Fayne L. Frey, MD, FAAD

Related: 5 Worst Skin-Care Mistakes You're Making

'Believe In Yourself'

“The best advice my grandmother gave me was not to let others get to me. She always said that the opinions of others will never matter as long as you carry yourself with high morals, respect, and good character. After she passed in 2014, I founded my nonprofit, Hey There Beautiful, based on her love and philanthropic nature. Her advice served me well because many thought my organization would not thrive, and now it not only thrives but has supported hundreds of people. - Dailisha Eve Rodriguez

'Always Think Positively'

“My maternal grandmother used to say, ‘Don't go talking her up.’ The ‘her’ in this case was someone you disliked or didn't want to see. The theory was that as soon as you started talking about said person, she would soon reappear to annoy you again. I think the real message of this advice, despite the snarky delivery, is that you can very much control your own destiny through positive thinking. By focusing attention on people who don't add value to your life, you are pretty much asking to have karma bite you in the ass at some point in the future.” - Andrea Picott 

'Use Aloe—And Be Enterprising'

“My mamita may be 92, but she could pass as being in her late 70s or early 80s due to her youthful appearance. Her secret? Aloe. When I was in high school, she would go out to the hill in our backyard and chopped off bits from our aloe plant. She would then dissect the nutrients from the plant and mix it with our shampoo bottles. With Mamita's blessing, I would sell these bottles around my private Catholic high school. That kind of hustle was instilled in me at a young age. As a makeup artist and beauty blogger, I still swear by this treatment.” - Natasha Maldonado

Related: 5 Surprising Benefits Of Using Aloe Vera For Your Skin

'Everything In Moderation'

“My grandmother lived to be 101. She was quite a lady and led a life of moderation. Once she turned 100, she knew that she was pretty cool for an older gal. One Thanksgiving, I had the pleasure of having my mentor, Andrew Weil at my house. Unsolicited, my centenarian grandmother walked up to Dr. Weil and said, ‘Dr. Weil, people ask me how I got to be this age: I don’t smoke, drink, or have free sex.’ Needless to say, we ushered my grandmother away from Dr. Weil, but the message about moderation is a great piece of advice.” - Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, A.P, DOM

Related: 9 Healthy Habits Of The World's Longest Living People

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‘Just Put Some Olive Oil On It’

“My grandmother, Baptista Albertini, loved olive oil. The benefits of it had been used for generations in Italy as a beauty treatment, and she treated any dry spot or skin irritation with a healthy dose of olive oil. I thought about the wonderful benefits of olive oil when I created my natural olive oil facial cleanser, Pure Love.” - Janice Petit de Mange