OT - Words of Wisdom from a 90 year old

[Sparkysarah]

A friend sent sent me an email with the following words of wisdom and I thought there was something in it for us all so here goes.   By the way.... it was written by a 90 year old lady called Regina Brett of: The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested colum 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 idee what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you should'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 and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but is's still a gift.

It was suggested at the end of the message that 93% of people won't send this onto others and it you are in the 7% who will, then forward it with the title 7%.

I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.

I would just like to add one of the best lessons I have learnt in life.

"You can't change anyone else, you can only change yourself".

I also think that "Over time, grief gets smaller as we learn to live with it" and I think this is more helpful than saying "time heals".

So has anyone else any "life lessons" to share. I bet we could make a whole new list!

Love to you all and hope you enjoy this

Sarah x

[rendean]

Sarah,
Thanks for sharing this with us. I have sen a similar list years ago and didn't pay it much attention, funny how one's attitude can change over time.

I also like "Over time, grief gets smaller as we learn to live with it". I would like to use that with several of my friends who have sudden unexpected deaths in their family. You are right, it expresses compassion better for the situation better than "time heals".

Once again, thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

Ren

[Sumanadevii]

I would add that there is suffering in life.  When faced with it the question should be why not me?  After all, who would we give it to if it could be given away?

[figuerpa]

I like this alot...I always push positive thinking, its funny my daughter will call me sometimes and say "mom, tell me the positive in this situation" because I always told her that no matter how bad something is there is always a positive and you need to look for it, sometimes you have to look deep but it is there and go with that one positive to make it better. :)

"Life is too short to hold grudges, get over it and on with your life"

Paula

[essdipity]

Thanks for this, Sarah.

Many of those sayings are very close to my heart. They're called wisdom. I've learned some of these the hard way, and lots of others just from living this long. They're true!

ess