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December 22, 2009

I Can't Take Credit...

...but I can find joy in sharing this message with you. A version of this message arrived in my email today and I absolutely consider it an early Christmas present -- one I will gladly share with you.

By Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer

September 20, 2007, 2:03PM

Originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 28, 2006

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 rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

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. A writer writes. 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. Overprepare, 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.


Wishing you a joyful Christmas, and true happiness in the New Year!

Lauren :)

16 comments:

tcd said...

Dear Lauren,

Thanks you for all of your thoughts and inspiration. It's has been a blessing to have "found" you again after so many years. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Tom

Charity said...

Number 10 is my favorite, HAPPY NEW YEAR

w said...

#34 is amazing. and true.

Karen & Gerard Zemek said...

I saw this in the paper--I like Regina Brett's column very much. This is a fantastic list of great lessons!

Congrats from SITS!

Lacie @ Creative Attempts said...

this list is fantastic I have read it like 5 times :) thank you for sharing

Trish said...

Hi from SITS! I liked this post, lots of great thoughts!

jonewman said...

I've read this before, but it's always nice to have it as a reminder...thanks! Happy SITS Day!

Kellene Maynard said...

My favorite is #47. We all need to remember that one! Congratulations on being featured by SITS!

Kriste said...

Love the list. I'm going to print some out to give to my daughters and one to put on the fridge.
Congrats on SITS!

V.D. said...

Hey from SITS,

Soooo glad I read this post today. I'm having one of those funky Mondays that just starts off weird. So reading this was a nice way for me to sort of reset and try again.

Thanks so much,

-Victoria D.

Heather said...

This is great! I need to read this again from time to time.

Stacie Raye said...

Wow, love these tips!

Hannah said...

Thanks for sharing life's 50 lessons. They are truly words to live by. I'm going to print them and put them on my refrigerator door. And I think I'll give copies to my children and grandchildren.

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Gay Vaughan said...

Thanks to SITS you were featured and I read this! This is good stuff.

Unknown said...

What a great list of advice & wisdom!

Stopping by from SITS to say hi & happy SITS feature day!

Tamara Kenyon said...

Loved this! Thanks for sharing. It is a good eye opener to what is really important.