2008年8月4日 星期一

Lessons in Life

Lessons in Life

By Regina Brett 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 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. 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


"A REAL FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN THE REST OF
THE WORLD WALKS OUT"