Life Lessons

[Crossfire]

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.

[lonewolf]

Love it!

[cougartex]

[Oldgringo]

Thank you, Crossfire.

This list is alive with truisms. One of my favorites is No. 32. To No. 43, I'd add, "...on time". I'm still working on No. 28...and will be for awhile.

Thanks again, good timing.

[eureka40]

Yup, that's it in a nutshell.

[longtooth]

Thanks for the reminder in hard times.

[carlson1]

Very good applicable lessons!

[RoyGBiv]

22
40

[gemini]

Very nice. Thank you.

[74novaman]

This was a handout at a funeral my grandparents went to recently. They sent it down to me and I have it on my fridge.

Life is Too Short

Life is too short to nurse grudges or hard feelings.
It's too short to worry about getting ready...for Christmas.
Just let Christmas come.

It's too short to keep all your floors shiny.
It's too short to let a day pass without hugging your loved ones.
It's too short not to take a nap when you need one.

It's too short to put off Bible study.
It's too short to give importance to whether the towels match the bathroom.
It's too short to miss the call to worship on Sunday morning.
It's too short to stay indoors on a crisp fall Saturday.

It's too short to read all the junk mail.
It's too short not to call or write your parents/children regularly.
It's too short to work at a job you hate.

It's too short not to stop and talk to children.
It's too short to forget to pray.
It's too short to put off improving our relationships with the people we love.

Life is too short.
Way too short to settle for mediocrity!

[Texas_Tactical]

14 & 20.

Good list, bookmarked....