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Full_Bloom
15 years ago

Talking about my notebooks made me go and dig a few out. I just wanted to share some of the things that I save....

First I wanted to share a quote that I've always liked that really spoke to me:

50 Lessons Life taught me

by Regina Brett

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week so here's an update:

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. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

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. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

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, except 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. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

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. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

And here's one of the notebooks I made. I may have shared part or all of this with you before, so if I did, I apologize ahead of time:


In This Moment

Author Unknown

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

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Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are...

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After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.

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We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage

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We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

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The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

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If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

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One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way.....

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something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles *were* my life".

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness *is* the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special. Special enough to spend your timeÂ

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...and rememberÂ

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time waits for no one...

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So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid offÂ

Until SpringÂ

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Until SummerÂ


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Until FallÂ

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Until WinterÂ

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until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy...

Happiness is a journeyÂnot a destination.


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So, dance as if no one were watchingÂ


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Sing as if no one were listeningÂ

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And live every day as if it were your lastÂ

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And Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Ei

Comments (10)

  • gardeningmary
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ei - what a wonderful thing to have shared with us. I agree with every one of those sentiments. Some of the photos made me tear up even though they are of such happy times. We have so much to be thankful for in each of our lives. Thank you for taking the time to remind us and share some of your special moments.

    The photo below "Happiness is a journey" has to be somewhere in England? I'm trying to guess where.

    Also, the picture with Scout and the deer is amazing. Clousseau would have been a quivering mass of doggie excitement and gone in the flash of an eye.

    Seeing your beautiful garden again brought back fond memories of the Idyllunion. One of my special memories.

    Mary

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you Ei. It's good philosophy that I mostly try to follow - but it's often easier said than done...! Lots of really great picttures there - I enjoyed your scrapbook/photoalbum :-)

  • jak1
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I really enjoyed this thread, but what teared me up most of all? The dog. So like my beautiful Teaser who has been gone for years....loved that dog!

    Thanks E!

  • dodgerdudette
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Eileen, you are a gem.

    Kathy in Napa

  • michelle_zone4
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ei, you have such a wonderful talent for putting words and photos together to tell an amazing story. I loved it. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Your lovely home and garden reminded of the fabulous time we enjoyed there a couple of years ago.

    Michelle

  • chelone
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    It's good to be reminded of those things. Even nicer when it involves such fun photographs. :)

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ei....I had not seen these photos before and the whole thread is a real treat! I loved all your 'life lessons'. You find the energy and enthusiasm to go that one step further to actually think about what you've learned and to write it down and I imagine that makes a difference in keeping you on track. I loved your photos! Your family looks like they are enjoying life. :-) I never get tired of seeing photos of your garden or of Scout!! Since I never made it to the IU that was at your house, I would really love to see your house in person. Maybe you will host an IU again sometime in the future?

    Thanks for sharing!
    pm2

  • saucydog
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What fun, Eileen! I feel like I was invited to your home!

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos and sentiments.

    Saucy

  • Marian_2
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ei, what a qreat series of pics and the text to go with them. It looks like quite an undertaking!
    "The Fifty Lessons That Life Taught Me" is very good, only a few do not apply to me. I need to read and re-read it.

    I wish I had the motivation to make a notebook of my life, but I would need at least three, one for each Granddaughter. :-)
    Another for my son would be nice too.

    Marian

  • Full_Bloom
    Original Author
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well thanks everyone...I enjoyed sharing it. Its really nice to have someone (s) :-) to share your thoughts and feelings with!

    Mary, Im not sure because my photo album is a little out of order now. Would you believe we took 350 pictures while in England? LOL! Anyway, some of the pictures got out of sequence, but I think the picture you are asking about is either the Cotswolds or from Cheltenham? I love England. It really felt like a 2nd home to me...the people there are truly the nicest and most genuine Ive ever met. I hope to get the chance to go back some day. Funny too, my dad would always said that the one bright spot while serving in the war was when he was stationed in England. He loved the people there and always told us how kind and friendly they were to the young soldiers so far from home. He was always so grateful for that. :-) I wish he would have had the chance to visit there again during peace time, but after the war dad refused to fly anymore.

    Yes Woody, I dont always succeed either, but I tell my self its good to have a goal! :-) And you are right PM, actually, that is why I write down/save the things that touch me because I "forget" and it helps me get back on track and inspires me when I need a lift.

    Marian...it is a lot of work, but if you ever did decide to do it I know it would be something the girls would cherish forever. Im sure you have some wonderful stories and important memories to share with them.

    Ei