life lessons ...

A short while ago, a post entitled "life lessons from a 90 year old," accompanied by a photograph of a cool and rather quirky old lady wearing lots of accessories, was all the Facebook rage.  In an admittedly ageist sort of way, I wondered how a 90 year old could get so popular online, and decided to Google said 90 year old to find out more ... As it turns out, the 90 year old behind the life lessons is not a 90 year old at all but rather, 50 year old Pulitzer Prize finalist Regina Brett, who wryly observes on her website that she has become somewhat of an urban legend.  Having survived breast cancer at the age of 41, Regina wrote the first 45 life lessons the day before she turned 45, and then added the remaining five lessons upon her 50th birthday.

You can read all 50 of the life lessons here, but these are my favourites:

#11: make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

This is a big one for me, as I am a Dweller from way back ...

#21: burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

I have in the past had a tendency to save things for unspecified special occasions.  Clothes, my nice moisturiser, that overpriced candle that smelled so good ... since reading this particular lesson, I’m using it all, and it’s actually really, really lovely to add these small, special things to my day.

#25: no-one is in charge of your happiness except you.

‘Tis true, but also a hard one to remember!

#26: frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

It’s all about perspective ...

#35: whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

There were times in the past that I really, really didn’t think that I would make it, but I did.  Awful as those times were, they ultimately changed me for the better.

#36: growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

Useful for when I peer into the mirror and feel alarmed about the wrinkles that are starting to appear on my face! :)

#37: your children get only one childhood.  Make it memorable.

This one is just for future reference ...

#42: get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

Lately I have been on a bit of a de-cluttering kick around the apartment, so this is a good benchmark!

#49: yield.

Sometimes it’s all you can do ...

#50: life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

All the everyday stuff and the hard times sometimes make it easy to forget that every day really is an absolute gift that should never be taken for granted.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!  It's a long one here so I am happy, happy :)