Friday, January 8, 2010

Lessons for Life

My good friend Frances, sent me an email entitled "Life's Handbook". I thought the suggestions were fun to read, good advice--and a good reminder at the beginning of a new year. I am posting some of them here, along with a few of my own. Enjoy!

1. Remember that when you leave this life, all you can take with you is your knowledge/experiences and your relationships. Make learning, serving, growing and loving others a priority.

2. People are more important than projects.

3. Forgive everyone. It is a waste of energy to carry a grudge.

4. Learn a new skill or read a good book. Everyone feels better about themselves when they are learning and growing.

5. Smile. You never know when just a smile to a stranger will brighten their day. Besides, everyone looks prettier with a smile on their face.

6. Take time each day to count your blessings and express gratitude to God for your life. Just learning to be grateful each day will make you a lot happier.

7. Be kind. You will never regret being too nice to someone. And even if someone chooses to be unkind to you, you can still choose to be kind back.

8. Make time for friends and family. When you are in need, your job or your list of “to-dos” will not be there to take care of you, but your friends and family will. Besides, friends and family members are gifts that should be treasured.

9. The best things in life usually require a sacrifice.

10. Some of our most difficult experiences will in the end provide some of our sweetest memories.

11. What we learn from a trial depends on us. We can learn to grow and turn to the Lord, or we can become bitter and angry. It is totally our choice.

12. You don’t have to win every argument. Sometimes it is best just to agree to disagree.

13. Every day will be a better day if at least part of it is spent in prayer and scripture study.

14. Take time each day to ponder.

15. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

17. Don’t compare your life to others—you really have no idea what their life is about.

18. You will always find time for what is really most important to you.

19. Don’t get so caught up in to-do lists, that you miss out on the best part of life—the sweet quiet moments spent with the people you love.

20. Take time each day to serve. Pray for promptings to help others and then follow the promptings when they come—even if it is inconvenient. If you will help God with His work, He will help you with yours.

21. Having a good sense of humor can get you through a lot of bad situations.

22. Last but not least--live your life with the three E's Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.

So what about you? What lessons have you learned over the course of your lifetime?

7 comments:

Momza said...

I want to tattoo these all over my body so I can read them all day long!!!
Inspiring!!!!
Happy Weekend!

Nikia, May and da kids said...

I really love the one about people being more important than projects. I know in church callings, often people get so caught up in doing their assignments including all the bells and whistles to a lesson or assignment and forget the most basic elements of the purpose behind their calling. Take for example, we have a YMs leadership that wants to do so many overnight camping trips monthly that in the past 4 years they never take into account the activities that the boys really want to do to like a talent show, paintball or laser tag, frisbee golf (might be called frolf) and sports tournaments. Because the YM leaders are so caught up in their OWN need to do activities they enjoy, more than half of the boys in the youth do NOT show up for Mutual and are starting to think church is optional as well. PEOPLE are way more important than projects.

Thanks for sharing this great list of reminders!

May

Handsfullmom said...

I like #9! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

the Eggett's said...

I love your #18
"You will always find time for what is most important to you". . .
I can't ever justify not having time to read my scriptures!!

Suzanne said...

Oh, I love that you posted this today!! I was listening to Wayne Dyer and he was talking about all of this information. It was amazing to listen too. My favorite thought was when he talks about when you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice, right? But if someone was to squeeze you, what would come out? Our goal in life is to internally become like God and when someone squeezes us, we should get love, kindness, creativeness and good. It was a complet epiphany for me this morning! I send you my happy vibes today!- Suzanne

Suzanne said...

Oh, one other thing I forgot to add to it, the love, kindness, creativeness and goodness is already there. We were created in divinity and are therfor divine. We just have to stay in tune with that source and trick is staying in tune all the time. Sorry for rambling, but I LOVE it! -Suzanne

Small House said...

A lover of thoughts and quotes...these are wonderful! I'm printing them now!

The pictures from your last post were beautiful and touching. Time heals. It really does.
Sandra