They're practical, serious, funny, hardworking - all of the above.

No matter how we describe our fathers, chances are they left a lasting impression on us.We asked readers on social media to share with us the best advice their dads ever gave them.Here's what they had to say.Joe Nihen: "No matter where you go, always make friends with the cook."Nancy Mason: "If you have a job to do, do it right the first time, and do it well enough that you're proud enough to put your name on it."Jennifer Sterner: "Don't burn bridges." (But sometimes I shut the gate ... LOL)JC Hannigan: "He told me to stop focusing on the things I didn't have (i.e. money LOL), and start focusing on the ways my life is blessed (kids, husband, etc. etc.), and enjoy the little years while they last."Daniel B Morris: "Brush your teeth. Eat spinach." Morris went on to add, "It's tough. Sometimes dads don't really give you man-to-man advice, or the birds and the bees, but as a son, you look up to your dad, admire what he does and follow and learn by watching. My dad was admirable, honest, nondrinker, good to my mom and his kids, a provider and had many friends. He worked hard all of his life, supported his mother, visited her often, was a family man, kept in touch with his siblings, etc., etc., etc."Amber Worthy McKenney: Let the anger go.Laura Strathdee: "Family always comes first."Audrey Wargo: "You know what you have ... you don't know what you're gonna get."Margaux Lash: "Pick your feet up on the escalator. The alligators are hungry and they might bite you if you don't take big steps! Apparently alligators make the escalators move, hence the green light, it's reflecting off them so they can see, and they're hungry from all the work they do!!"Samantha Leigh: "That life's not fair. No one owes me anything. If I want a good life, I should work hard for it every single day."Tyra Hat: "Compound interest is your friend" She went on to add, "He's big into investing in 401(k), IRAs, etc. When I graduated from college, I didn't get a trip to Europe or a car, I got a funded IRA."Chris Parker: "When given unsolicited advice, smile sweetly, say thank you, and then do what you believe is best."Cathy LoRe: "My Dad always warned us about being 'guilty by association,' so we chose our friends wisely. And my boys have always been told by their dad, 'You do good things, good things happen to you,' so we are big believers in karma!"Nicole Rhoads Redden: "Your worst fears rarely come true, so don't dwell on them."Pat Jackson: "Buy your home as close to the high-priced neighborhood as you can. Your investment will only appreciate in value." She adds that her father was correct.Franklin Klock: Two things, and they conflict. "Don't sweat the small stuff ... and it's all small stuff." But he also said, "Take care of the small stuff and the big stuff takes care of itself."Delta Dawn Downs: "Don't spend money you don't have unless it's for an emergency or an investment." Also, "Don't do things half-assed; do it well and finish the job."Mike Bogert: "Buy low, sell high."Rick Grant: "The snake you know is less dangerous than the snake you don't."Patricia McMahon: "That fighting in the Middle East would take over the world. That was 1969. I wasn't sure where the Middle East was. I know now."D.L. Williams: "Greatness never happens when you're comfortable."Al Klitsch: "He who hesitates is lost."Lorina Cruikshank Fauber: "My dad was a mechanic by trade for a dress factory, and I always got a chuckle that my dad was part of the Ladies Garment Worker's Union, but he could fix anything. Houses, cars, appliances, you name it. He'd tell me, "People say I'm lucky I can fix things, but ... if I were lucky, things wouldn't need fixing." He showed me how to use saws and drills and lay tile and do basic plumbing and electrical. He joked that I was the son he never had. I have four older brothers."Dian Stein: "Become a waitress - once you have those skills you can get a job anywhere."Elaine Runyon: "Don't judge and generalize people. Know them individually." She adds, "Dad had many lessons he taught me. I miss him."Deanna Cattanach: "It's a long road, but I know you are going to make it."Erin Changary: "It's not a mistake if we learn from it," and "Keep your enemies close."Peggi McArdle: "My dad said that in a relationship you have to be willing to give 200 percent for the times that your partner has nothing to give."Nancy Pierson Ternberg: Mine said, "Keep your nose clean."Sheri Muffett Ryan: "Whether you think you can or can't - you're right." I think it is a Henry Ford quote. Not entirely sure, but he said it often, that and, "When it's too tough for everybody else, it's just right for a Muffett."Stacy Mendoza: "My dad wasn't much of a talker at all. But one thing I will always remember is just because you are born with a disability, does not mean you are disabled."Jess Wheeler: "There's nothing wrong with a girl who reads. There's no day too bad that a walk in the woods or along a creek can't fix. Don't be afraid to ask for help, but also know how to fix it yourself (this was in reference to him teaching me how to change tires and do general car maintenance). Don't trust men who have perfectly manicured, soft hands."SE Gimenez: "Use milk instead of water for a softer bread texture." He was a surgeon and didn't cook.