Why is good advice always delivered with bad timing?

For example:

While being guided into uncharted territory, through a dark cave, a docent may caution you, "Watch your head."

And, at that very moment, a reverberating thud slams your cranium.

Bam!



Or, there are those nights when you want to warm yourself with a nice mug of hot chocolate.

As you raise the glass to your lips, a warning voice from across the room exclaims, "Careful, it's hot!"

A caution drowned by the scalding liquid, which leaves your tongue screaming for ice.

Ouch!

These are the moments when bad timing ruins good advice, and we want to lash out, "Gee, you could've mentioned that just 10 seconds earlier and saved me a lot of grief and pain!"

In the wide world of singularity, no advice is more flippantly delivered with a disregard to punctuality than comments centered on dating. But, it's not only the timing that gives good advice a bad rap; sometimes we blame the source.

Although it is commonly considered appropriate for singles to give advice to other singles, the barrage of good-intended remarks can come from an array of marital statuses.

The brunt of these statements tend to come often from those who have recently been christened with martial bliss -- newlyweds.

Regardless, no single welcomes any unsolicited comments about dating savoir faire; especially from those who are the bearers of the eternal ring. (Ask any single; it's an ego thing -- nothing personal.)

Well, much to my chagrin, good advice (regardless of the source, or timing) is good advice, and should be treated as such.

All too often, singles (and I throw myself in the mix) get caught up in denying an opportunity to receive good advice on the basis that we know enough about dating.

Daily entrenched in the war against loneliness, we are well-versed in the wrenching of heartache. Why would we want any more advice? We know it all.

However, advice is invaluable; regardless of what, how or when mentioned -- it just may have imperfections.

No one will ever deliver perfect advice every time. But, advice is just that -- a suggestion for better living, and it should be considered for what it's worth.

Regardless of our personal quasi-vendettas against receiving advice, counsel is best taken in stride and with gratitude.

So, the next time we're about to brush aside helpful counsel, stop and consider the advice. There just may be a word of wisdom, concealed in the seeds of suggestions.