lesson plan

Some things I've learned by 50:

~ The road less traveled may have less traffic, but it will still be rife with potholes and detours (oh lord, the detours), missing exit signs and the occasional large animal suddenly darting into the road.

~ As much as it can feel personal to be on the receiving end of it, most behavior is more reflective of the person exhibiting it than it is of the person it's directed towards.  As Don Miguel Ruiz says in The Four Agreements, "Don't take anything personally."

~ Forgiveness can be our most resilient emotion...if we allow it to be.

~ Life can be one big "do over" if we want it to be.  It's never too late to make a dream come true, if even just a small piece of the dream.

~ The most powerful transformations can begin by doing just one kind or compassionate thing a day.  Do one nice thing today for someone you really dislike...not for them, for you.

~ An attitude of gratitude will lead to plenitude.

~ Fear is a great motivator...if I get up off the couch long enough to allow it to be.

~ Pity parties don't get the credit they deserve.  I think of them as a celebration of bottom dwelling.  If I've reached the point where I'm throwing myself a pity party, there's nowhere to go but up.

~ Once I stopped thinking of depression as the enemy, it began to lose its power over me.  That doesn't mean I stopped getting depressed--it just means I reframed it.  Now I'm able to experience it without the accompanying fear.  I've lived with depressive cycles long enough to understand that they're just that--cycles.  I'll tumble down again...but I'll rise again, too.

~ When I spend just one day being fully aware of every single word I say, I'm always shocked at what comes out of my mouth.

~ Nature is the greatest healer I know.  When I really hurt on the inside, doing something outside is the quickest fix.

~ Gossip may be one of the best guilty pleasures...but it's a karma-wrecker for sure.

~ Drama makes for good theatre...but it gets crappy reviews.

~ You know you've reached the best place in a relationship when you realize you won't curl up and die if your love ever decided to leave, because that means you're two whole people...instead of two halves trying to complete each other.

~ Home has nothing to do with a dwelling.

~ There's no point in traveling if all we want to do is duplicate our home life at our destination.

~ If I'm able to let go of my need to control for just one day (and we're all controlling, just to lesser and greater degrees), I'm always amazed by what happens.

~ It's important to form opinions...and equally important to not let them rule us.

~ Our workplaces would be so much nicer if we could post signs at the entrances reminding us of what we were taught in kindergarten:  play nice, don't say mean things, wash your hands after using the bathroom, share, don't hit, take a nap when you feel cranky.

~ I will never feel as grown up as I've always imagined my parents to be...at any age.

~ Revelation is one of our most powerful tools--incredibly empowering despite its inherent vulnerability.

~ Empowerment and power trips cannot coexist.

~ Most people think they crave fame...when what they really crave is to be known.

~ We are extraordinarily resilient creatures...we just often forget that.

~ I don't need to wear a watch to function capably in a time-sensitive world.

~ My dream life is to be relished and enjoyed, even if some of it's scary.  After all, I spend a lot of time in that alternate world.

~ Doing things with my non-dominant hand opens me up in ways beyond evening out my manual dexterity.

~ The simplest way to transform the ordinary into extraordinary is to view it through the eyes of a child.

~ The only person I need to impress is myself.

~ One of the best shortcuts to enlightenment is to shut up.  When you most want to talk...listen.

Comments

[Rebekah]

Just a few things running through your head today, eh? These will bear a LOT of contemplation. Great, great thoughts! Thank you, dear.

[jeri]

I sooo needed that list...thanks for posting it...no where to go but up...
xoox
Jeri

[Stephanie]

What a remarkable list. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. It's encouraging to know that we never stop learning about life, do we?

[kat]

wow, great list. i had to come back and read it again later to let it sink in.

this one cracked me up, cause it's so true for me too:

"I will never feel as grown up as I've always imagined my parents to be...at any age."

[dawn]

You truly have learned a great deal & are enlightened.
I'm going to print your list for myself because I need to be reminded of some of the great points you've made.

[Elizabeth]

oh Marilyn, you've just done an enormous thing for your mom--- it's no wonder you would feel emotional and physical letdown-- hell, I'd need a full week holiday after a weekend like you just had and there you are right back at work. But I am glad you have such wisdom to help you through the down times.

[la vie en rose]

Ms. M you are divine...this is something I need to print out and keep posted where I can see it daily. Thank you for sharing the lessons you've learned... and are still learning...

[samantha]

First of all, I am in love with that dreamy picture.

And second of all, what a list! I don't call you one of my wise women for nothing. Thank you for reminding me of things I need to remember, and to consider. Last night Husband and I sat up talking about family stuff and it seems some lessons keep hitting me over the head - how sometimes being RIGHT is not as important as someone's heart.

[Tonya]

Cheers to every one of those. Wonderful post!

[Lori-Lyn]

Beautiful and right on, as usual.

[violetismycolor]

I love this self-relevatory list of wisdom. Wow, Marilyn, you must be the coolest! I especially like the one about living in your dream world. I think that we do actually exist there, sometimes. I love going to sleep so that I can see where my dreams take me, and to who.

[Nancy F.]

You may not feel grown up, but I assure you that you have made it.

[Jill]

What a great post. Thanks for that. The reminder not to take things personally especially jumped out at me - that's something I needed reminding of!

[shelagh]

Lists like that bear reading often!
I like to be reminded of what is important and not.
I loved this one too:
"Do one nice thing today for someone you really dislike...not for them, for YOU."

[liz elayne]

What a fantastic list. I am going to have to print it out to read and reread. (I actually typed life instead of list at first - so that too - a fantatic life!)

[Jim the Teacher]

Great list, I like the gossip one especially.