What Ive learned in 50 years

[Mari333]

I dont know why Im posting this but I wanted to share it.
Compared to what I was taught, and not what I know from having lived over 50 years.
Here's a few things, add on if you wish.
1. The Universe sometimes shuffles your life around, whether you like it or not, and grabs you by the ass to put you where you need to be..and just when you think you are comfortable, it happens again.
I guess thats what "Life happens while you are making plans" means.
2. Take care of yourself first or you cant help anyone. I learned this the hard way, as I was raised Catholic and I was raised to martyr myself to everyone and completely disregard my own needs. Not healthy.
3. Dont sweat the small stuff. If your printer jams or the washing machine croaks, the world will not implode . When all kinds of small stupid things happen at the same time, relax and take it one day at a time. Little stress can lead to major stress, and drive you crazy.
4. Do self analysis with compassion for yourself. Dont be mean to yourself. You deserve to be treated kindly by others, and if they arent nice to you, thats their problem. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life. Be your own best friend to yourself.
4. Dont worry. If you do worry too much, get help from a physician or counselor...it could be hardwired and there is medication out there for it. and other remedies to relieve the stress your mind is creating.
5. Other people get angry when you dont do what they want. Thats not your problem. Do whats good for you first, or, as is said "Follow Your Bliss".
6. Imagine you are laying on your own deathbed (which will happen to all of us) and ask yourself "what did I do in my life? what did I want to do and didnt do?" Then, with that in mind, go for what you want to do now.
7. The old saying what doesnt kill you makes you stronger can be true IF you dont create scenarios that traumatize you. Self evaluation is good, if you see a pattern of your own behaviour starting to make you sick, or worry, or crazy, maybe its time to recognize there needs to be a change.
8. What you learned as a kid may not be true, and its okay to question everything.
9. Many adults are little kids in adult bodies. Just because its an adult doesnt mean its mature and responsible. The only little kid I let out now (mostly) is my fun little kid. The angry brat behaviour is something I have to keep tabs on, unlike Bush, who is a brat and hasnt grown up.
10. Fears are usually thin...under most anger Ive had is fear, and under that is pain and a need to cry. Cry, its a good thing.
11. Everything I ever thought I had as an original idea was already written about by some other human being.
12. Laugh a LOT....not much isnt funny.
Okay thats it for now...
Rant off =))))))))))))))))))

[Mikimouse]

1. You nailed it, point for point!

I couldn't agree more with your post. I sometimes preface things that I say to younger people with 'I may not have learned much in my 50+ years on this Earth, but I have learned this...'. I am going to copy some of your post (if that's OK with you) and send it to my wife, who needs to understand that she comes first, not the people who constantly make her life miserable by harping on things that happened 30 years ago (mother, aunt, and son). It makes her crazy, and by extension, it makes me crazy because I cannot get past the guilt that is heaped on her at every opportunity. Those folks just don't realize how much she has done for them and how many things she would have liked to do, and didn't, becasue she was taking care of them. They are a shameless, and selfish bunch. rant off

[Mari333]

4. Yep, stress is catching!

It runs through the whole family...Ive had that in my life too..
Im still learning to live wisely and keep stress at a minimum.
Good luck!!!!!

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. An amendment to #11...

Everything has been done before, but it hasn't been done by YOU. Everything comes from somewhere and even the most groundbreaking work has elements borrowed from other people if not outright stolen.

So in a nutshell, all the more reason to be humble about your work.

[madrchsod]

3. good list!

my fav saying is "if it won`t kill you,don`t worry about it"..
number nine, dam,i have a whole bunch of in-laws that fit that description!

[Faygo Kid]

5. One more: The grass isn't always greener. . .

. . .on the other side. Don't take for granted what you already have. As a 50 something, I appreciate your list.

[Rowdyboy]

6. Excellent thoughts! Since I'll be 50 in February, I 'd add...

1. If you're going to fall in love, fall in love with your best friend.

2. Listen to those significant to you; talk to them too.

3. Good Manners really do matter.

4. Kind actions come back to you. So do unkind actions.