*Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio*
*"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 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.* *4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents 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. 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. Take a deep 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.* *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 but 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. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.* *33. Believe in miracles.* *34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.* *35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.* *36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.* *37. Your children get only one childhood.* *38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.* *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. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.* *42. The best is yet to come.* *43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.* *44. Yield.* *45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."* Its estimated 93% *won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with *the title '7%'. I'm in the 7%. *Remember that I will always share my spoon with you**!* *Friends *are the family that we choose for ourselves. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
