ON GROWING OLDER – LESSONS LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME By Regina Brett , journalist , age 90
To celebrate growing older , I once wrote 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 . Change the way you think
4 Your job won ’ t care of you when you are sick . Your family and friends 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 Release your children when they become adults , it ’ s their life now . 9 Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque 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 secret , you shouldn ’ t be in it . 15 Everything can change in the blink of an eye . 16 Take a big 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 .
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