When I was growing up, my elders always seemed to have a cliche' for certain situations. Some of them made perfect sense to me because they were simple to understand, while others seemed long winded and confusing. As I matured, I began to understand why my elders were telling me their stories or words of wisdom. They didn't want me to make the same mistakes as they did. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes, and unfortunately, sometimes we don't. Making mistakes don't make us failures, not admitting we made them does. It is human nature to be defensive, even when we know that we are wrong. It takes a strong person to admit defeat. The next time you are surrounded by your elders and hear a cliche', listen to what they are saying. If you don't understand what it means, ask. Here are a few popular cliches that you have probably heard before: Actions speak louder than words This one is self explanatory. After all, yo...