These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Sunday, March 15, 2009

38 Life Lessons

****See update at end of post.****

I got this in an email from Daisy, and I thought it was worth passing along.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 38 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here goes.

  1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
  2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
  3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
  6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
  8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
  9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
  10. Love your parents because they will be gone before you know it.
  11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
  12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
  13. Don't compare your life to others' lives. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  14. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
  15. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
  16. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
  17. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
  18. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
  19. The most important sex organ is the brain.
  20. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
  21. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
  22. Always choose life.
  23. Forgive everyone everything.
  24. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
  25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  26. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
  27. Believe in miracles.
  28. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
  29. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
  30. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
  31. Your children get only one childhood.
  32. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
  33. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
  34. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
  35. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  37. Yield.
  38. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

If you had to pick just one of these to live your life by, which one would you choose? And why, if you want to share? I'll tell you mine later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, here's my bit about my choice.

These were all very good. Not a one of them could I say wasn't worth the remembering. I struggled with narrowing it down past these:
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
18. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
21. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
28. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
29. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
34. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

But in the end, I picked #29, "Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now." I picked it because if you follow this, most of the others will fall into place. I think if you follow this and throw in the "five years" advice, you can't go wrong. Does that mean I picked 2? Did I cheat on my own instruction? I don't think so. I'd still pick 29.

10 comments:

  1. My favorite was:

    Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?

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  2. Boy, isn't that a powerhouse of truth?

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  3. That is my favorite as well - perspective is often something I lose and when I go back to old journals I sometimes forget how much energy I gave something.

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  4. Very good lessons... now if I could just REMEMBER them!

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  5. Julie, it is hard to even have perspective when in the middle of a crisis, I think. But the reminder of the big picture, the long-term outlook is helpful.

    Patti, I printed those out and put them in my journal. I think I'm going to shrink the list down and carry a copy in my billfold, too. Sometimes I need reminders when I'm away from home, too.

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  6. Mine is let the past go so it doesnt screw with the present. I cant explain why exactly well I could but it would be long . lol

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  7. Bobbie, check out my update on the post. That was one that I liked, as well. A ton of truth in that statement.

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  8. I think if I lived by all of them, I would be one hell of a person. These are great.

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  9. I've come back to review the list and decided that I don't just want to pick one.

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  10. OK, Julie, I guess you can do that since I broke my own rule first. ;D

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!