I recognized a list I'd seen earlier. Mostly because her name is Regina too. But I didn't remember the author being so old. So I did my search engine research and found out that I was correct. She is not 90 years old as the email claimed. She had just turned 50 when she wrote these lessons in 2006. So if the emails were factual, she'd have aged 13 and 1/3 years every year!!
Anyways, I loved this list the first time I saw it. So here it is again. Luckily I had lived a lot of these on my own until I read the list, but some others made me think and change some of my attitudes. And now the list from Regina Brett, originally published in The Plain Dealer of Cleveland,Ohio.
Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM
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.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328
http://www.reginabrett.com/
Regina Ivie again:
Especially remember this last one. I have to continually remind myself that I am here for a reason, otherwise I wouldn't have been given the chance to receive my gift each day. Of course, most of the time #46 is hard for me.
I also found these lessons while trying to find the original list. Some could have been written by me to add, dang my not trying harder to be creative.
We all have a story to tell based on our life experiences. Tell it. It might help someone.
Take time to encourage a kid.
Take time to listen to a kid.
Give a kid some work to do.
Teach a kid to work.
Don't yell at your children. It hurts.
Listen to your heart and trust what it is saying.
Remember: What the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good. Share your story.
Use your God given gifts and talents and serve people.
A gentle answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1
Never hire an electrician whose nickname is Sparky.
Always give a volunteer something to do. Turning away someone who is willing to contribute for free is a bad business decision, and it may discourage that person from volunteering again.
Reset your desire to zero, then your life would be more simple.
If you chase perfection, you might catch excellence!
And finally, I, Regina, want to leave you with my lesson.
Smile, you never know how far that smile will go that day.
I believe your smile is not yours, but to be given away. When you smile at someone, it cheers them up and they will usually smile at someone else. And it just keeps going for the rest of the day. And I don't mean just to smile at adults, I have always been more comfortable with children, lean down and smile at them. Even babies appreciate your smile. It often tickles me when I smile at a baby and it then proceeds to crank it's neck to try and follow me as it passes me or I pass by.
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