Life Lessons

Don't let your fears stop you from trying something daring.

But at the same time, don't do things you know you'll regret later.

We are blessed to be in a world of forgiving people who give us many, many second chances and opportunities to redeem ourselves. That said, the one thing that does not forgive is time. We will never live the 21st, or the 22nd, or the 23rd years of our lives again.

Too many people spend their lives waiting. Waiting for class to start, waiting for work to get out, waiting for the weekend, waiting to be asked out, waiting to graduation... and in the meantime while waiting they find various, usually pointless things to do, to "pass the time." Don't live your life passing time--do something with it.

Other people spend days, weeks, or months in a frantic rush constantly doing things, while never stopping to smell the roses. If you've spent a day or two inside, go outside, stand still, close your eyes, and feel the world around you. Feel the wind blowing around your arms and legs; feel the sun/moon beams on your face. Hear leaves rustling in the trees and the birds singing. See the world around you with your eyes closed and know that nothing you do will change any of that.

Have the courage to break routines you don't actually like but do anyways because it's habit and habit is comfortable. You'll be happier in the long run.

If we were supposed to live in the future or the past, we would have been created there. Instead, we were created in the present, so don't spend your time living in the future--you'll miss out on today.

Don't regret. Life is what it is. Every decision you make is a reflection of you. Every decision you make also permanently changes who you are for the rest of your life, making it more likely you'll make that same decision in the future, whether it's a decision to continue or a decision to stop.

Life is too short for regrets. The past is unchangable, and people are not perfect. Today is a new day--make things right by the way you act from now on, not by your apologies.

Random Acts of Kindness don't require a reason.

And the person who needs all of the above lessons the most is me.