Thanks for the question and revealing your thoughts about being humorous about own flaws.

I cannot so much think of advice, it gets blurry in my memories. It's more that I found people helpful when they talked less. Instead, they gave a helping hand in practical things. Or just listened, throwing in a good question here and there.

Certainly I received advice and the one which angered me the most were probably the one I needed the most. Though I am not saying that any advice from any person would resonate with me. For if they tried to teach me really hard about something which was not even an issue of mine, it got ridiculous and ended in a confused fight. I lost one friendship in this way, but I am not regretful. I think we did each other a favor of not pretending in wanting to meet the obviously totally differing needs and interests. If friendships only consist of duty, they fail in my experience.

... Oh, now I remember an advice from the gynaecologist, who once told me during my pregnancy (long ago) that "it would be good if I came to terms with the fact of being pregnant". I was stunned, as I had believed that I had only positive feelings about the subject. But my constant complaining and nagging during this time said otherwise. "Putting up with something" was something I had encountered before and it always made me very angry or offended when I was told such things. Well, it will have had its justification. I can be a knee-biter and a nuisance sometimes. HaHa!

But I also learned that even within my worst qualities there is something good to be found about. Being persistent is sometimes a saver for me. I must have learned that one cannot always achieve what one needs with being nice. Sometimes you've got to get on peoples nerves in order to get a say or something you need for your profession, household or live.

Usually, comparing the experienced miseries - which were worse, your or mine? - is useless. Unless, you joke about it! Yes :)