<>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
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."
Thanks GG, we always need these reminders. #43 is my own personal favorite. My version of it is: no matter what life throws you, make sure you've got on mascara and lipstick. Lindy# 26 for me..........
I'm leaning towards #26 myself. I'd like to embrace #17 - simplify, simplify, simplify. 25 and 6Lots of good food for thought. #2 is speaking to me right about now in a lot of different areas.
Suggestions taken to heart!
IIRC Regina Brett was nominated for a Pulitzer...yes a quick google confirms my memory. There is a picture on her blog site. Can she really be 90, or is this another Regina Brett who works for the same news organization?
[QUOTE=SnowOwl]I like #32. Life's too short, live it already.