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 rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:
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. 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. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
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. Overprepare, 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 except 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. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
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. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Do you especially agree with any of these? Do you disagree with some? Are there any you would like to add?
I especially like #22, “Overprepare, then go with the flow,” and #47, “Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.”
I’m not sure how I think – seems I lost the plot about #10 but looked at the end conclusion…
“flow” will cover most of the #’s
(still struggling with my current life feelings…thought I might put it all back in the box, lock it up and throw the key away…but know that’s not a reasonable solution now that the “thing” is out of the box…)
Good luck — I hope it turns out all right.
#42 and #44 are my best three…of course, I could choose several more! Great list!
Life is what it is. It’s up to us to make the most of it. Or not.
Great list. I cannot choose favourites. They are all good.
Sharon Lipshitz, a middle-aged woman has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she has a near death experience. During that experience she sees the Angel of Death and asks if this is it. The Angel of Death says no and explains that she has another 30 years to live.
Upon her recovery Sharon decides to just stay in the hospital and have a face lift, liposuction –the works. She figures since she’s got another 30 years she might as well make the most of it.
She walks out of the hospital after the last operation and is immediately killed by an ambulance speeding by. She arrives in heaven and sees the Angel of Death and complains, “I thought you said I had another 30 years.” The Angel of Death replies, “I didn’t recognise you”
Moral of the story: There’s nothing wrong with making yourself look good, but if you want to live your life properly, live them as you are and not as anyone else!
LOL!!! love that.
I love it too!
One of the blessings of being elderly — no more worries about how we look. I read years ago that on the whole people in their 70’s were the happiest. That certainly has been true for me
indeed…
I like all of them for the most part monk.
but especially number 50. the last one.
as the marine’s DI said…
“we didn’t promise you a rose garden.”
and I was told by the marine… “that was an understatement.”
and I agree with regina brett who compiled the list apparently…
“it’s still a gift.” xo
I agree!
Some amazing insights there. Worth reading over again and pondering about each one.
Glad you liked them. 🙂
A great list. I think #11 is especially important – “Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.” If you’re weighed down by all sorts of emotional baggage from the past, appreciating the present is much harder.
I agree with that. When I was in my mid-20’s I decided that our family and early environment gave us a rough draft. It was up to us to edit/rewrite it. I think rewriting is a lot easier than writing the first draft.