Today I turn 42. In my feeble years on the this dirt clod we call Earth, I have made many mistakes but also done some fun things. I have been blessed with people in my life who have pushed me to keep going and have been blessed with great critics who tried to bring me down. I have had successes and failures. I have made friends and lost friends. I have been hurt and I have hurt people. I have regretted parts of life and gloried in others.
I have lived because I have been given an opportunity. I am not perfect nor will I be until I close my eyes and open them on the other side. I decided long ago to live a life of no regrets. I decided this so I can live now and no one will have to lie about my life later.
I know you did not ask for any other this, but here are 42 Things I Learned at 42
- When someone offers you a breath mint, take it.
- When you have a choice between friends and truth; choose truth. In truth, you will find your true friends.
- Buy for quality, not for price.
- Always family before work. You can find more work, but you only have one family.
- Your best relationships happen over time.
- Eat to live, not live to eat.
- Invest in memories more than investing in money.
- Spend so much time complimenting others you do not have time to criticize them.
- A handwritten card means more than 1,000 text messages.
- Stop whining about failures and write them down to learn from them.
- Do not simply be religious, be a Christian.
- Many times, the best thoughts are not the newest thoughts.
- Put your marriage before your children.
- Dr. Seuss was a pretty smart guy.
- Time is more valuable than money.
- 99% of fights are not worth it.
- Plan the week ahead or someone will plan it for you.
- It is better to be strict on your children now, than regret not being strict later.
- Start retirement early.
- Be a student of learning not a student of television.
- Many times, the best thing to say is nothing at all.
- Learn to read and read early.
- Write every day, no matter what the day brings or what the day brought.
- Turn off technology during the week.
- Stop whining and start doing.
- Your past does not determine your destiny, you do.
- Remove the words “I wish I would have” and “I should have” from your vocabulary.
- A few small great things everyday leads to a greater life tomorrow.
- Apologize often.
- Read every day.
- Learn to have a discussion.
- Strength is not found in how much weight you can lift, but how many people you lift up.
- Get some sleep. It is important for your health.
- Life is not about making other people happy, it is about helping them become better.
- Embarrass your kids. They will thank you later.
- Stop worrying about what people think and live what you know is right.
- Do not always tell others what they can’t do, tell them what they can do.
- Learn how to breathe.
- Some of the best things you will ever learn will not be from school.
- Collect memories not things.
- Do not be a problem finder, be a solution seeker.
- Love people; whether you think they are unlovable or not.
Just my thoughts,
