Regina Brett is an author who has experienced the ups and downs of life, including breast cancer at 41. The day before she turned 45 she wrote a column of the 45 Lessons Life Taught Me. She added five more lessons when she turned 50.
You may not agree with them all – they are Christian based, hence references to getting angry with God, reading the Psalms – but there’s still a lot of good advice there. The easy part is reading them; putting the advice into practice is hard.
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.
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. 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 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.
Hi Bytes - as always I love your variety - and this list is nice, but the counselor side of me has a problem with a few of her items - and not to be knit picky, but thought I would just note it- for example, time does not heal everything - and I have worked with plenty of clients that have sadly still have to deal with important stuff that was filed and boxed fro too long - so time alone does not necessarily "heal" - and then yeah, we'd all like to pay off the cc's, invest for retirement, and make the wisest decisions with money and investments - but real life throws curve balls or requires times of risk - or times of serious giving to others, where we maybe even balance carry overs or pull from a nest egg to bless or invest in a person - - and not only is that okay, but it is just what has to be because we made a right choice for that time.
ReplyDeleteso I find her list nice, but a bit shallow when it comes to the rubber hitting the road - and no disrespect to her as a person or a woman who endured much - because she seems amazing, but I also take issue form another angle…..
With my Christian hat on, I surely love 33 and 34, but take issue with others; for example 38, the note about reading the Psalms, well yes, the human emotions they cover there - with many of them having King David plead and call out to God from the deaths of fear - or remorse – or anger – they are rich. But this old Jewish historical story - while having value for emotions and how a man lived and felt - who was a man "after God's own heart" - well his experience is different because now Christians have the gift of the Holy Spirit - and that changes everything. And when you referred that this list had a Christian angle, well actually a Christian angle should always consider the way the Holy Spirit – who comforts, guides, soothes, counsels, etc. – After the days of David and other earlier times, God realized we needed help - and so while reading the Psalms to hear how David cried out it may have value for very real emotions there – and to see we are not alone in what we feel and all that, but for Christians - well they now have the gift of a Helper – and we do not cry out this way – we stand firm knowing that God will make a way, he is in us and with and we can do all things in and through him.
Now I do not mean to be critical of her sweet list, but when I read it again so many of them just irk me - like "don't audit life" - well there is a time when one must assess and ponder and plan – and this failure to audit has led to accumulated problems and sloppy habits and unchecked behavior and low self awareness – which then impedes relationships.
But my favs from the list are #21 – and my sister used to dress her son in little suits – because she was so tired of not using her good stuff – and 13 and 14 – and well, many more – so I can really see why you shared this hopeful list – even though I would modify at least half – but that is jute my humble opinion….
have a good day!