Jennifer Garner gives the best life advice to women about to marry as a Thanksgiving gift

Jennifer Garner, the lovely actress known for her roles in Alias and 13 Going on 30, recently shared some heartfelt marriage advice during her appearance on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast. When asked about her favorite mantra or quote, Jennifer, 52, reflected on wise words from her mother, Patricia Garner: "Never expect a man - don't marry a man thinking you can change him."

This piece of advice resonated with listeners, as Jennifer humorously added that she might need to "work on that one," though it remains unclear whether she was referencing her own past relationships or simply her delivery of the quote.

Jennifer has experienced two marriages herself - first to Scott Foley from 2000 to 2004 and later to Ben Affleck from 2005 to 2018. While she didn't delve deeply into either relationship during the podcast, she did admit in a previous interview with Vanity Fair that her split with Foley was influenced by Hollywood's "fast-lane life."

Reflecting on her time with Affleck, she described him as a "complicated guy," saying, "When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it's cold. He can cast quite a shadow."

Jennifer reflects on love and life lessons from Mom

During the podcast, Jennifer also shared some additional wisdom from her mother, affectionately referring to these as "vintage Pat Garner" sayings. Two of her favorites include, "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning," and, "Happiness is your own responsibility." These quotes highlight Jennifer's appreciation for resilience and self-reliance, values she seems to hold dear.

Though Jennifer refrained from discussing her marriages in detail, she did touch on her three children with Affleck - Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. She warmly agreed with podcast hosts Molly Sims and Emese Gormley when they praised her kids as "resilient" and "amazing."

Parenting appears to be a priority for Jennifer and Affleck; the former couple was recently spotted spending Thanksgiving together with their children. The family also participated in a charitable activity by serving meals to homeless individuals in Los Angeles through Midnight Mission.

Meanwhile, Affleck is navigating his second divorce after splitting from Jennifer Lopez earlier this year. Despite their separation, Lopez appeared grateful in her Thanksgiving Instagram post, sharing her own celebration and calling herself "so incredibly grateful."