Written ByRegina Brett,
90 years old, of 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
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 family 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, 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."
Remember that
I will always share my spoon with you!
Friends are the
family that we choose for ourselves. R. BRETT