Thursday, June 4, 2009

Forty five lessons of life

As I'm sitting here with my foot elevated after slicing my big toe nail clear off and bruising the other four.
(I was rushing around without shoes...and I caught my foot under the bathroom cabinet on a piece of pressed board that wasn't completely finished by the builder.)
Note to self, wear shoes!

I am trying my darnedest to distract myself from the throbbing pain, before I resort to squeezing the big toe hard enough to numb it.
I am aware that this act would be be very stupid... but I so want to do it anyway!
FOCUS FOCUS...back to the purpose of this post...

I found this article in the Plain Dealer, Cleveland Ohio, that I wanted to share with you.
It was written by Regina Brett, 90 years old.
Hope you enjoy it like I did.

"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- then 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 e. 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."

These are all great lessons that I personally need to remember.
I have etched #15 and #33 into my memory... mostly because I need to keep telling myself that God's in charge of miracles .
Number 10 is a fact..it is futile to resist!

So if you have a second or two, please leave a comment on any that might strike a nerve with you!

27 comments:

  1. First of all, I'm so sorry about your foot! Wow! makes me hurt just looking at the photo!

    Secondly, this is a wonderful list and somehow blends very well with my post of yesterday morning called Looking Back. They all speak to me in some way, but 11, 13 and 19 I think will go on the fridge door!

    Thanks for the reminders, take care of your foot, and have a beautiful weekend!

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  2. They ALL strike a nerve, Peg. Oh, but YOU! Talk about nerves. I'm in pain just reading about your toe. Yiiiikes! You need to wear some shoes. I'm wearing indoor gym shoes right now, on one foot that is. Love you.

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  3. A beautiful list! I plan to print it to keep in my purse.

    Thank you :-)

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  4. enjoyed them all, you might add-keep your shoes on.

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  5. Oh Peggy, oh ouch! You and I are a match these days; my big toenail's half missing from being bashed weeks ago. But I didn't hit them ALL! I hope you feel better soon and that everyone at home spoils you rotten meanwhile.

    The list is amazing; too good to pick only a few. Printed!

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  6. Lin;

    Keeping my shoes on is #46, good idea. I'll pencil it in for sure!

    Kay;
    I know, I should be wearing shoes, I'm gonna try! The DR's always wanted me to go shoeless in the house so that's what I do. But I think my feet are worth protecting !
    Glad you're in a tennis shoe already, you're a fast healer.
    Love you!

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  7. Sylvia;

    Thank you, I am still cringing when I look at my nailess toe. It's not throbbing near as much today and I think it's on the mend!
    Have a wonderful weekend yourself and enjoy the sun.

    Hit 40

    I'm so glad that you found some meaning in the list like I did. Thank you so for your comment!

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  8. Loach;

    OUCH is exactly what I yelled ! Then a couple other words also!

    Susan;

    We are twins switched at birth after all. Darn toes, they stick out to far....it's not us, it's the toes fault! NOW I feel better!
    Thank you Susan, always love your comments!

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  9. Big toe pain is bearable but barely. I feel sorry for you too.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    You might like to read the story about us almost moving to Alaska...

    Homesteading in Alaska

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  10. Thanks Abe, I'm coming right over and read your Alaska stroy!

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  11. Well, here you guys wanted to do something similar. Thanks for coming over. I appreciate it.

    Now you will have to take a look at my new flower blog.

    Our Flower Pot

    Have a nice weekend.

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  12. It's hard to type when one is cringing in sympathy pain. Yikes! I can make it feel better, just as soon as I remember where I left that story about my War With the Treadmill. ;)

    My Mom sent me that list in an e-mail yesterday when the work place had me ready to throw things. I love them all, but #10 remains my favorite. :)

    Feel better fast!

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  13. Hope,
    I had a deal with my treadmill too, many years ago. I bought a pilates machine and have not had another problem with an angry machines.

    No 10 is my favorite too!

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  14. Excuse me Peggy anre you and Kay in some competition to see who an have the worst injury?? You poor thing that looks incredibly painful and the big toe, ouch its got to hurt. I always am in bare feet here and it is dangerous.

    I love this post and they are some very wise words that I intend ot read over and over. Thankyou for posting them and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!

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  15. The photo of your foot and the account of losing the nail of the big toe literally have me an attack of nervous jitters from my knees to my feet. Then I read your account again, and the same thing happened. I FEEL your pain! Gosh, that must've hurt badly.

    I like all the lessons of life, but my personal favorite is #43. We DO have all that we need. More stuff doesn't bring more happiness.

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  16. #10, #12, #13...and many,many more...Sorry about the toe, the photo made me cringe! Last night (in the dark, shoeless) I hit the hearth with my foot, poor little piggy is a-squealin' this morning. Hope you feel better quickly!

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  17. Lilly;

    The first person I thought about was Kay...I thought OH< NO!!!!
    I am healing...but my big toes nail is looking very narly...like a dead tree trunk! YUCK!!
    Have a good bloggy vacation...read you in a week!

    Cheryl;

    I usually never wear shoes in the house...last night I hit the toe again and it sent pain waves through my whole body....so I'm a believer!!! Thanks for sharing your toe story, I know we all have at least one!

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  18. Jean;
    There is just something about a toe nail ripped off the nail that send us all into the shivers! Alot of nerve endings are in your feet and hands! Ouch still makes me cringe....and as soon as I can fit a shoe on I will wear it!
    Thanks for your heartfelt comment!

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  19. Abe;

    Funny how we are all similar in some ways!
    I will be over to check out your flower pot for sure, you are such a great photog...I admire your work so much!

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  20. Oh, that looks so painful! I'm sorry you had such a thing happen and, I hope it gets better real soon. I have had to learn to approach my bed V E R Y cautiously for that same reason. The roller hiding beneath the bedspread seemed to always find my toes...painfully.

    The list is great, I've never seen this particular one before. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Deligirl;

    It's conforting to hear other's stories about stubbinh their toes. I seem to do it more often then I'd like to admit. First time for the big toe nail amputation! TisK
    Thank you for stopping by and making me feel better.

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  22. Ah, these are WONDERFUL...so few words can really lift the spirits and remind us of what values we have that are real and dear to us....thank you Peggy :)

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  23. Braja;

    I couldn't have said it better, thank you. Thinking of you two on your final surgery.

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  24. I'm with Regina-- Definitely #10 and #33

    Great things to think about and words to live by. Thanks for sharing.

    Hope your toes is better soon.

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  25. I'm trying NOT to feel your pain. Just reading it makes me wince.

    I like your list but my favorite is #39. I really need to get outside every day, and in summer I mostly live ourdoors.

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  26. I printed this to bring it to the father of the kid that cut off his foot with the chainsaw. I thought it might do him a little good. Great list!

    I like the whole list, but today I will concentrate on 25 and 31.

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  27. Actually, Peg, I'm wearing the tennis shoe on the foot that's not broken so it'll be the same height as my cast. :-)

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