Lessons in Life

For over seven years Regina Brett was a columnist at the Beacon Journal in Akron. Ohio. During that time she was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer. Regina is now a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lessons in Life
by Regina Brett

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 rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When it doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.
5. Pay off the credit card 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 you 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, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
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 and 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, except 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. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood; make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms, they cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside everyday; miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile, and saw everyone else's, we would grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up, and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow. But, it's still a gift.


Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly... Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.