3 Great Pieces of Advice I Received From Old Man

“Money can run out or be lost. But the advice that a person receives will never end until he/she dies.”

I had no one but my mother. I was poor. But I was young and strong. My ox that plowed my field died. And again, I needed an ox to plow my field. But I could not get a new ox because of poverty. Whoever needed money in our village would go to the capital and try to make money. I did this because I had no money. I arrived in the capital after two days of travel. And I started looking for a job.

I didn’t know what to do. At least I decided to be a butler. A week passed, and finally I met an old man who was looking for a butler.

The old man asked me, and I answered.

+Are you married?

-No

+Do you have a mom and dad?

-My father died. I only have a mother.

+When did you come to this city?

-I came ten days ago, sir.

+Have you wandered around for ten days?

-No, I looked for a job

+Couldn’t find a job?

-I couldn't find it

+Well then I want to hire you.

-I would be very pleased, sir.

And the old man continued;

+I will hire you, but I cannot pay a lot.

-I don’t want a lot of money

+But, I pay very little

-How much would you give?

+A penny

-A penny for a day?

+No

-Is it for a week?

+No

-And in a daze, I asked again. A penny a month?

+He said no. A penny for a year.

I thought the old man was making fun of me. And I was depressed. But the old man told me he would give me not only a penny but also advice. And I am in need;

I said, “I need money, not advice.” Because I urgently needed money. The old man said this in response.

“Money can run out or be lost. But the advice that a person receives will never end until he/she dies.”

But since I was a young boy, it didn’t affect me much at first. I wanted to leave. But the old man said the following;

“Stop my son, look at the walls like this. As you can see, there are about 5000 books here. I have read all of them. My life has passed with knowledge. My hair has turned white on the book. I came to the conclusion that the mind is more valuable and more useful than money. Advice means a ready mind. I can give you 5–10 liras in a short time, but I give you a piece of advice that is worth more than money. Therefore, if you are smart and clever, stay here and serve.”

I went out without saying anything. As I walked alone on the street, I thought about your advice that is worth money. I could not sleep that night. And I wondered what advice the old man would give all night. What was this advice worthwhile than money? The next day, he went to the old man. I promised that I would work with him for a year for a penny. For a year I cleaned the bookroom, carried water, washed the stairs, and so on. One morning the old man summoned me to his side. And he said

My son, it has been exactly a year since you worked with me. Open your ears well, I will give you your reward. “Take a penny, ‘’ said the old man. And he gave his advice;

“Don’t go anywhere you don’t know the path and the trail”

I was looking at the penny in my hand, feeling depressed. And I said I already knew that. The old man looked at me with a smile. He said if you knew this, now you remember that you know this. I thought, did I work for this for a year? I was going to say goodbye to the old man and go out. But the old man said; If you want, stay with me for 1 more year and I will give you 1 penny with a piece of advice. I said no. I do not want to. I went to my house to rest. But I still couldn’t fall asleep thinking of the second piece of advice. I was very curious. The next day I went to the old man. I agreed to work with him for another year. I worked with him for a year. At the end of the year, I went to the old man. And this time he gave me 5 pennies and gave me his second advice.

“Do not betray trust”

Again, I was very bored. I said that I also knew this advice. And the old man smiles again. He said you remembered what you know now. And he added;

“Remembering what you know is as useful as learning something again.”

Again, I’m bored. Saying goodbye to the old man; Like last year, he said to me. “If you stay with me for another year, I will give you 1 penny and my last advice.”

I went home again. But unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep this time. I was also very curious about the last piece of advice. The next day I went looking for a job. When I could not find a job, I decided to go to the old man again. And I served him for another year. He counseled me and summoned me to give the money. He gave me money. Then, he gave the following advice;

“Don’t send your wife to sleep where you haven’t gone by yourself”

I bowed my head in front of me. And again I thought it was a trivial word. It was time to go home now. The old man asked where would you go. And I said since I haven’t seen my mother for 3 years, I will go to my mother. OK said the old man. Then, before you go home, stop by me, and I will give you a gift to give to your mother. I said OK. The friends he met gave me a horse so that I could go back to my village.

Before I set out, I went to the old man. And he gave me two loaves of bread. Again, I was angry with the old man for giving these worthless gifts, but I did not show my emotions. And I set out at night. A puddle came across me. I could not find a place to pass. I would be heading towards the water with my horse. But I remembered the old man’s first advice.

“Don’t go anywhere you don’t know the path and the trail”

Thanks to this warning, I chose a different path and kept moving forward. Later I learned that the water was actually a whirlpool. Someone who gets into the water is disappearing. So at the end of a year, I learned knowledge that would save my life. I am very happy. And I sincerely thanked the old man.

I was very hungry while I was driving on the road the next day. And I decided to eat one of the loaves the old man gave. But I made a promise to the old man. I was going to take this bread to my mother. I immediately remembered the old man’s second advice.

“Do not betray trust”

And I decided to stop because of this warning. After a while, I saw bandits shouting to stop behind me. They asked me if I had gold and valuables. I am poor too. I only have these two loaves of bread. But I said please don’t take it from me. The thugs took pity on me. And they set me free. Finally, I got home. And I saw my mother. She was lying exhausted. When I ask what happened; She said that her meal was finished and she was very hungry. I brought one of the two loaves in my bag. When the bread was cut in half, gold was poured on the ground. The old man filled these pieces of bread with gold. I understood that; If I had eaten that bread on the way, the bandits would steal my gold. So the old man’s second word saved my gold. And he actually paid me for the years I worked.

My respect and faith in the real old grew. And there is something else I believe in.

“Mind is more valuable than money. Money would be of no use if there was no reason. “

I had a lot of money now. I bought a field. I built a whole farm. I became the lord of the village. But I just couldn’t get married. The elders of the other village wanted to give their daughters to me, but I had a condition. Without me, my wife can’t go anywhere. Because the third advice was giving. I also wanted to apply this advice. Because the first and second advice taught me a lot. Of course, it had to mean something. But people did not accept my condition. Then I thought too. I couldn’t have captured people. Finally, I found a girl who accepted my condition and got married. For four years I did not send her alone to anywhere. But one day they forced me to take her to visit. I accepted it unwillingly. A certain amount of time has passed. I was sorry and regretted that I didn’t listen to the old man’s word. Therefore, I went to the house where my wife was. And I could not believe what I saw. The house was on fire. And there was no one else but me. I also saved everyone in the house. And I remembered the last word of vigilance.

“Don’t send your wife to sleep where you haven’t gone by yourself”

If I hadn’t followed this advice. My wife would die. In other words, I actually earned my living in the city I went to just to earn money.

So, you may come across people like this old man. And they are usually more experienced people than us. Every word they say can have a deep meaning. I know, maybe at that moment, you might think it really unnecessary. But remember that; one day you can learn one of the most important lessons of your life. I also thought that these three pieces of advice were unnecessary, but later I saw that each piece of advice actually gave me a life worth kilograms of gold.

Finally, I want to mention again.

“Money can run out or be lost. But the advice that a person receives will never end until he/she dies.”

I tried to tell a story I had read from Omer Seyfettin with my own feelings.

Thank you .