Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"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 rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
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Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
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When in doubt, just take the next small step.
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Life is too short to waste time hating anyone…
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Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
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Pay off your credit cards every month.
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You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
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Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
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It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
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Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
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When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
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Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
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It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
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Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is
all about. -
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shoudn’t be in it.
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Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never
blinks. -
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
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Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
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Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19… It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.
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When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an
answer. -
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
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Over prepare, then go with the flow.
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Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
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The most important sex organ is the brain.
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No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
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Frame every so-called disaster with these words’ In five years, will this
matter?’ -
Always choose life.
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Forgive everyone everything.
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What other people think of you is none of your business.
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Time heals almost everything.
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However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
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Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
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Believe in miracles.
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God loves you because of who God is, not because ofanything you did or
didn’t do. -
Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
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Growing old beats the alternative – dy ing young.
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Your children get only one childhood.
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All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
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Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
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If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab
ours back.
41… Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
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The best is yet to come.
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No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
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Yield.
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Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift."
