“To celebrate growing older, I 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. ['speak the truth' mark twain]
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, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and 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.
I returned to each of the 45 lessons again and again and again. Bravo! To the grand old lady of dignity and light; the light must have been cultivated with a craving. Regina Brett has natural dignity complete with a strong perspective: to love and embrace life in all its changing forms. Wow! She inspires me with speed. Some lesson made me smashingly think and laugh, at the same time! Like: 1) Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2) Whatever doesn’t kill you really makes you stronger. 3) What other people think of you is none of your business. 4) Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 5) God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 6) Growing old beats the alternative – dying young. 7) Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 8) It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 9) It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 10)If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. 11)When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Isn’t it almost impossible to separate wit and wisdom from these one-liners of Regina Brett? They are thoroughly honest, witty and constructive. I felt she had exclusively devoted all the 45 lessons for me! To trace guidance and instructions for improving my performance, I would find substantial durability in these: 1) Over prepare, and then go with the flow. 2) Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. 3) No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 4) Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’ 5) Yield. 6) Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Here I go forwarding and posting my comments on them, not only to be one of the 7% (it is estimated 93% won’t forward it) but, because of every possibility you will relate to the lessons choosing to enjoy all its benefits. Cheers! To Regina Brett and her 90 plus years. Cheers! To us all to succeed in learning the 45 lessons and thanks to my dear friend for sending these lessons.
Geeta Chhabra
