Weekly THIS AND THAT for August 2, 2009: 50 Lessons Life Can Teach Us

This and That:
50 Lessons Life Can Teach Us


Someone I know recently turned 50 and marked her birthday with 50 lessons life has taught her. How many of the following lessons have you learned from your life?

Fondly,
Father Nicholas

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. 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. 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