I think we often forget our tendency to be speaking to ourselves when we offer advice to other people. So, the advice I mete out to you isn't necessarily out of hypocrisy, particularly if I don't seem to be taking it at the time. I just desperately wish someone would have spoken that truth to me when I needed it.
Also I may have skipped over this detail but where in southern Turkey were you referring to? I spent 2 weeks in Alanya over Christmas break and my husband and I are discussing spending a few months during summer there!