Here is a forwarded email I received recently. Not the usual life lessons. A lot of good lessons and advice. Enjoy! I italicized the ones that were poignant to me.
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.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11
Do you know what happiness I find in remembering 9/11 and I find because of it? Because people who knew they had only a few minutes to live called to express love. And those who did not fall this day were reminded by those fallen how important every moment is, and how much love came pouring out.
It reminded all of Americans to take time and remember those who really, really matter. To remember WHAT really matters in life, and I say with confidence that many people learned to stop taking many things for granted.
I know I did. I am grateful daily for the many blessings in my life. For my family, my parents, my husband, my child, my happiness, my friends, my dog, my home, my community, my job, my bed, the roof over my head, good food, good health, and more. I do say prayers of thanks everyday for them. Being just out of college, I think I was at a good part of my life as I began adulthood, and really took time to think of what is really important, and how lucky I am.
Bless you, and bless America.
It reminded all of Americans to take time and remember those who really, really matter. To remember WHAT really matters in life, and I say with confidence that many people learned to stop taking many things for granted.
I know I did. I am grateful daily for the many blessings in my life. For my family, my parents, my husband, my child, my happiness, my friends, my dog, my home, my community, my job, my bed, the roof over my head, good food, good health, and more. I do say prayers of thanks everyday for them. Being just out of college, I think I was at a good part of my life as I began adulthood, and really took time to think of what is really important, and how lucky I am.
Bless you, and bless America.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Happiness and Heartbreak
Almost a week ago, I heard of a friend's passing. She was 48. Lost her 5 year battle with cancer. Used to model in Paris, married for 15 years. Had four children, rising 9th, 7th, 5th, and 3rd graders. Model, but also model parent, wife, and friend. She was tremendously amazing.
She is someone I will remember for years to come. I cried when I heard of her passing. Cried a few hours later again. Then again at her memorial service on Saturday. I think what breaks my heart the most is knowing her children as well as I do. I have, in my 5 years, taught three of them, and my husband has taught the eldest. I taught one for one year, another child for 2, and the youngest for FOUR years. So I know this family well, and fell in love with them like so many at my school had.
Paula was nothing short of a beautiful woman. I am SO happy I knew her. I choose to see this as a time for mourning, but a time of pensive thanksgiving. I truly reflect on how grateful I am to have known her, and to have watched her interact with so many people. She blessed so many lives.
There aren't many people I can say who are simply, truly, beautifully GOOD. She was.
In the midst of heartbreak, happiness for being graced with her presence.
Paula was tremendous, and she did a 3-day 60 mile walk for breast cancer awareness (although she herself had another form, her mother had lost her battle with breast cancer many years ago) a year and a half ago. Here is her depiction of her experience, if you are so inclined. I wish I could point our friend out to you, but she is one who has little hair, and is very tall! Often in this video, she is wearing shades and a cowboy hat. Anyway...just a small part of her legacy.
She is someone I will remember for years to come. I cried when I heard of her passing. Cried a few hours later again. Then again at her memorial service on Saturday. I think what breaks my heart the most is knowing her children as well as I do. I have, in my 5 years, taught three of them, and my husband has taught the eldest. I taught one for one year, another child for 2, and the youngest for FOUR years. So I know this family well, and fell in love with them like so many at my school had.
Paula was nothing short of a beautiful woman. I am SO happy I knew her. I choose to see this as a time for mourning, but a time of pensive thanksgiving. I truly reflect on how grateful I am to have known her, and to have watched her interact with so many people. She blessed so many lives.
There aren't many people I can say who are simply, truly, beautifully GOOD. She was.
In the midst of heartbreak, happiness for being graced with her presence.
Paula was tremendous, and she did a 3-day 60 mile walk for breast cancer awareness (although she herself had another form, her mother had lost her battle with breast cancer many years ago) a year and a half ago. Here is her depiction of her experience, if you are so inclined. I wish I could point our friend out to you, but she is one who has little hair, and is very tall! Often in this video, she is wearing shades and a cowboy hat. Anyway...just a small part of her legacy.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Happiness Is...
You can read this blog's title as:
Happiness is a journey.
As in, the road to happiness is a journey, which takes time and effort and mindfulness.
OR
Happiness is...A Journey.
As in, Happiness is: A journey. "Happiness Is" is my title. This happens to be an account of a journey.
OR
Happiness is a journey.
As in--going on a journey (walk, journey through life) brings happiness.
I think I mean all three. Or, at least the first too. I hope that this journey will bring happiness, and I will mean all three.
Essentially, dear reader, I hope this blog will serve as an outlet for my journey as I learn to live my life. I have recently come across the book "The Happiness Project." I have ordered it. I haven't even received it yet, though it's sparked something in me. I am not an unhappy person, but there is always room for improvement. I like to have things organized, so possibly this blog will serve that need for me as well through posts and labels.
I already have friends who are interested in discussing together as we read. If I can be held accountable by friends who too want to take a similar journey, this might just make my journey a little bit richer!
Happiness is a journey.
As in, the road to happiness is a journey, which takes time and effort and mindfulness.
OR
Happiness is...A Journey.
As in, Happiness is: A journey. "Happiness Is" is my title. This happens to be an account of a journey.
OR
Happiness is a journey.
As in--going on a journey (walk, journey through life) brings happiness.
I think I mean all three. Or, at least the first too. I hope that this journey will bring happiness, and I will mean all three.
Essentially, dear reader, I hope this blog will serve as an outlet for my journey as I learn to live my life. I have recently come across the book "The Happiness Project." I have ordered it. I haven't even received it yet, though it's sparked something in me. I am not an unhappy person, but there is always room for improvement. I like to have things organized, so possibly this blog will serve that need for me as well through posts and labels. I already have friends who are interested in discussing together as we read. If I can be held accountable by friends who too want to take a similar journey, this might just make my journey a little bit richer!
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