For most of my adult life, I’ve tried to have one (or more!) people who are older than I am to counsel me. To keep me in my lane. Often, left to myself, I’ll get off course, lose focus, do things I don’t want to do and not do those things that matter to me.
That’s one reason I practice what I preach and have had my own business/life coach since starting my consulting practice 30-plus years ago. I’ve gravitated to older people because they offer wise counsel based on a lifetime of experience.
This saying is true: “To know the road ahead, ask those who are coming back.”
So, when I came across this list of life lessons, I thought it would be a nice thing to pass along to you. It was written years ago by Regina Brett for The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. She titled it “To Celebrate Growing Older.” Based on a long life, fully lived, Ms. Brett came up with 45 important life lessons. She said, “It is the most-requested column I have ever written.” Years later, she wrote: “My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.”
- Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
- When in doubt, just take the next small step.
- Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
- Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
- Pay off your credit cards every month.
- You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
- Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
- It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
- Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
- When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
- Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
- It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
- Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
- If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
- Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
- Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
- Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.
- Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
- It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
- When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take “no” for an answer.
- Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
- Over prepare, then go with the flow.
- Be eccentric now. Don’t wait (until) old age to wear purple.
- The most important sex organ is the brain.
- No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
- Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
- Always choose life.
- Forgive everyone everything.
- What other people think of you is none of your business.
- Time heals almost everything. Give time—time.
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
- Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
- Believe in miracles.
- God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
- Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
- Growing old beats the alternative—dying young.
- Your children get only one childhood.
- All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
- Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
- If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
- Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
- The best is yet to come.
- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
- Yield.
- Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.