I am a big believer that the most profound aspects and lessons of life, as well as the deepest life philosophies, can be summarized in a few simple words. We see this time and time again in the writings of some of the greatest and most famous minds throughout human history. This universal wisdom can also come from "regular" people like you and me, and transmitted from one human being to another via the "simplest" ways. One route of such wisdom can be an email from one's wife...
The following was written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, from 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 [She] 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".
