This was in my email today, sent by our friend Rosalie B. I REALLY like the lessons. Now I need to learn them better.
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
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. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
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. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
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. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will,
forward this with the title '7%'.
I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.
Love it!
Sooo many valuable but simple lessons....I too need to learn them better!
#'s 1 and 45 say it all I think!
I especially need to work on #'s 17 and 21...I'm always saving things for "some special day" that never really comes...need to remember that every day is special!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Elaine, I love this!
I am going to share it with a few friends.
I'm sure they'll enjoy reading it as much as I did. :)
Love this & so needed it today, will share it, & keep it to reference in days to come. I seriously need to work on 17, 29, & 43. My favorites are 15, 28, 33, & 34 and I LOVE LOVE LOVE 38. Oh that all the world would live with that motto. What a different world it would be!
Thanks for sharing, Elaine :)
Joy
#26,, in my case, it will,, I know its not going to get any better thats for sure,, unless they develop that magic pill or potion,,, but still nice Elaine
It is a great list. The list sure can make one think. Life is flying by and we need to make the most we can out of each day.
What a great reminder of what's truly important.
I think this is beautiful?
I think it deserves to be brought back to the top.
I am reading it for the first time. For others, it may be a refresher.
I think we all could benefit from it.
Duchess
This is my first time reading this too.
I really enjoyed reading it and would benefit loads from a lot of it.
Thanks for posting
Leanne
A very good read. :)
susanep - Happy Holidays Everyone!
Very nice, Elaine! Thanks!
This is great! Thanks so much for sharing! :)
Absolutely inspirational!! Thanks Elaine!
Thanks for sharing that, Elaine. That 90 yr. old lady truly knew what was important. I used to work with the seniors at church and I loved every minute I spent with them because of their vast wisdom. They didn 't worry about tomorrow or next week - they just found joy in today.
Jorja
It does make you think!!! Thx for sharing.
Carolina,
I had a copy of this hanging by my desk when I was still working.
Co-workers would come by and read occasionally. I had lost it and didn't remember where I got it. Thanks so much for posting it! :D