Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Life

I thought this was great!
Written by Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH : To celebrate growing older, she wrote the 45 lessons life taught her. It is the most-requested column she's ever written. Her odometer rolled over to 70 in August, so here goes:

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. 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 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. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
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.


Peace

29 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

hey odat! you came back!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Akelamalu said...

Good to have you back Odat and there's some great advice in this post. :)

The CEO said...

{{{{{ODAT}}}}}
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. The absolute truth.

Sandee said...

Hi honey. Great to see another post from you. I love it too. I went inspirational today too. Big hug and lotsa lovies. :)

katherine. said...

I liked this a great deal... enough to email it to myself...

thanks!

Patti said...

this is a wonderful list, Odat ~

Happy Monday!

Sarge Charlie said...

Hi Miss Odat


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

buffalodick said...

Only a person who has lived a while and seen quite a bit of life could have written that.. or for that matter, appreciated it!

Julie said...

Whoa...you got some deep deep stuff here Odat!

Gene Bach said...

Great list Odat. Great list.

M@ said...

I thought you were 50.

Anonymous said...

How lovely Odat! Thank you for sharing it with us! :)

I hope you are well and certainly think of you often.

Anonymous said...

That's a wonderful set of lessons.

Traveling Bells said...

Great list of lessons. May we all heed them. Welcome back, Odat. I've missed you. Hugs, honey...

heartinsanfrancisco said...

These are wonderful!

I hope you're doing well as you are sorely missed, Odat.

Immi said...

Wonderful! And it's got me going with some ideas for my blog too. Thanks so much :)

buffalodick said...

Answer, dammit! Either say something to the people trying to communicate, or say something in response to their blogs...Please?

Sarge Charlie said...

I see roger's ball

RW said...

Hey thanks for playing with my ball Odat! Sarge seen it to wow ;D

buffalodick said...

E-mail... gotta know where you're at- mind wise..

Echomouse said...

Hey Odat :)
I caught a movie tonight called Shadowlands. Brilliant movie I thought. During research after viewing, I learned about a book called A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. I want to buy it for myself but also thought of you.

If you need it or think it might help, I wanted to share the title with you. Maybe you already heard of it but I'm ashamed to say it was new to me.

Hope you are doing well :)
{Hug}
Carrie

Jeff B said...

Great words of wisdom.

Casdok said...

Very good. :)

Rick Rockhill said...

Oh this is good, thanks for sharing. Glad to see you back, I didn't know you were blogging again.

-Rick

RW said...

One day when I get old I will remember this! Hahahahahaha :D

Constance said...

Hope that you have a good Thanksgiving, Odat ! :)

Say It said...

This is good ODAT. Its nice to see you still lurking and around. You are a positive presence. Happy Thanksgiving!

buffalodick said...

Shouldn't you start mumbling again soon? I, for one, would like to see that...

Julie said...

Wow! Now this has some mighty good stuff in it! Thanks for sharing!