StOM StOM 1605 | Page 20

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. StOM Page 20