Have you ever thrown a party and were overwhelmed by the gifts that keep on coming?
That’s what it’s been like over the last few weeks ever since I shared with you, “25 of the 50 things I learned by the time I turned 50.”
I explained how I only included 25 of the 50 because I wanted you to help me finish out the list.
Your wise responses started pouring in right away and have not stopped.
The hardest thing I’ve had to do in a long time has been paring them down to 25.
Let me say in advance, “Thank you!” to everyone who has taken time to write in.
Here are some of the gems you’ve sent along:
Just plain smart stuff
Barry: If you have to ask the question, you probably have the answer.
Steve: Remember that aging is mandatory, but maturity is optional.
Thomas: The biggest part of being smart is knowing what your dumb at.
Elaine: (Commenting on my #12: It's time to break up with "Should." Should says who?) When you break up with Should, start dating Could. It will make a huge difference in your outlook.
Randy: How we think is vital. Focus with positive emotion on what you want. Avoid too much emphasis on what you don't want.
Pam: Think it. Don't say it. You can never get in trouble for saying (or Facebooking or Tweeting) the wrong thing if it doesn't come out of your mind.
Chutley: Laugh more, thank more, trust God more, worry less, be content with self, be kinder, love more, forgive quicker. Everything is a teacher.
Sandy: You don't have to keep a perfect house because there are more important things to do in life than clean.
On relationships
Tim: For husbands: Buy your wife flowers — for no reason. Help with the housework — for no reason. Tell her how pretty she is — especially when you know she doesn't feel pretty.
Yvonne: You don't get what you want out of a relationship, you get what they have to give. Only you can decide if that is enough.
Karen: Accept your partner for who they are or do not marry them. Over time you may find that some of their flaws may actually make you love them more.
Deborah: You can't control what other people do, and you can't let what other people do control you.
Vicki: I cannot please everyone all the time. Oh, the freedom I felt when I realized it was OK if everyone didn't like me.
Anne: There are only three things that you can change: How YOU think, How YOU feel and How YOU act.
Irene: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Margery: At the very least, be kind.
Susie: Forgiveness is a magical word.
On love
Johnny: Love is spelled TIME.
Lucy: Tell the people you love most in this world how much they mean to you every day. You never know when you won't have the chance to tell them again.
On worry
Mark: 90 percent of what you worry about never happens.
Mira, hospice volunteer: When something does not go my way, I tell myself "Nobody died."
Joy: Live in the moment instead of spending so much time regretting the past or worrying about the future or what others think.
On sleep
Candy: When you wake up in the middle of night with your mind racing, say the Lord's Prayer twice slowly. It calms your mind and you fall back to sleep.
Thomas: The softest pillow in the world is a clear conscience.
On the future
June: You're never too old to make a new dream or an old dream come true.
Dear Reader, writing this column, sharing this time with you each week, is definitely one of my dreams come true. For that, and all your wise words, I say, “Thank you!”
