My blog piece today is inspired by Regina Brett, an American award-winning author and a Pulitzer Prize finalist whose piece in The Plain Dealer [a daily newspaper serving Cleveland Ohio] entitled “50 Life Lessons”, has taught me a whole lot about life and its perspectives. What she writes is so infectious that bloggers the world over have posted her sayings on their sites and yet others have shared them with their fans and friends on Facebook and Twitter.
I’d like to share with you the ones that struck a deep chord within me the first time I encountered the list. Take this: “Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch” This is a timely reminder to us all not to jump headlong into selling our soul to our work and careers at the expense of our health. How about, “Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.” Personally I have experienced much-needed release on the occasions when I confided fully in a good friend and have him journey with me through some of my life’s most difficult moments. “Don’t compare your life with others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.” This reminds me of a story of the man who complained he had no shoes until he ran into someone who had no legs.
“Time heals almost everything. Give time time.” In this “instant” world which we live in, patience never features very strongly as one of our modern virtues. We seem to want everything immediately and at the press of a button. However, when it is a hurt or a pain which we need to resolve, an instant turnaround does not quite cut it and may even tempt one to take on undesirable quick fixes such as alcohol and drugs. No matter what, there are some things that only time will heal.
Regina writes, “Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.” Coveting what others have will just place undue stress on us. Isn’t it better to live our lives within our own means? “If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.” Many of us think that we have the short end of the stick but this is at most times untrue. Let’s all learn to be more appreciative for what we have been blessed with.
My personal favourites are the ones that appear tongue-in-cheek but have their own individual point to make. Take this for example: “Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.” Or what about “Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.” And I can certainly relate to it when Ms Brett says, “Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.”
There are so many gems amidst “50 Life Lessons” that it’s worth Googling it and taking your time to ponder over each and every one of them. My parting words to you today are taken from her list as well: “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.” Have a great day ahead!
Geoff Tan 