45 Life Lessons Written by a "90-Year-Old" Woman

Some very wise advice to ponder- ""these universal lessons are relatable to anyone who needs a little reminder of what's important in life."

I bolded some that really caught my eye and struck home with me.

She wrote down these life lessons the night before her 45th birthday after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in 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 your credit cards 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. Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

17. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

25. Forgive everyone everything.

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

30. Believe in miracles.

31. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

32. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

33. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

34. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

35. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

36. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

37. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

40. The best is yet to come.

41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

42. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

43. If you don't ask, you don't get.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Link

Some very wise advice in there we sometimes don't stop to think about.

Maybe YOU have some wise advice to add to this list? I'd love to hear it...

Ok, I'll add one of my own: "Never count on anyone but yourself, that way nobody lets you down"

My Grandma " Child, when you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and keep climbing up. "



The lady who wrote that list is right, all of that is correct.

#33 is so true.

a reply to: tinker9917

Wear sunscreen.

soulwaxer

originally posted by: DaphneApollo
My Grandma " Child, when you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and keep climbing up. "

The lady who wrote that list is right, all of that is correct.

#33 is so true.

That one is EXCELLENT!

The most important lesson in life is:


GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!

originally posted by: soulwaxer
a reply to: tinker9917

Wear sunscreen.

soulwaxer

also wise

originally posted by: tinker9917
Ok, I'll add one of my own: "Never count on anyone but yourself, that way nobody lets you down"

So close to mine.

Never count on anyone by You and Jesus, everyone else will fail you in a time of need.

originally posted by: infolurker

originally posted by: tinker9917
Ok, I'll add one of my own: "Never count on anyone but yourself, that way nobody lets you down"

So close to mine.

Never count on anyone by You and Jesus, everyone else will fail you in a time of need.

Yes. I think I just worded mine wrong.

"Never waste a hard on and never trust a fart"

Unknown wise-man

Don't eat yellow snow

Lol... love number 21. " don't wait for old age to wear purple"

Fall down 9 times , stand up 10 .

a reply to: tinker9917

"The most important sex organ is the brain."

Ew!

a reply to: tinker9917

When the voice and vision in your head are more clear, loud, and profound than all of the opinions you hear around you....only then have you mastered your life.

Stay away from energy vampires...people who suck the living energy from you by wasting your time

a reply to: tinker9917

Never explain, your friends don't want to hear it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

Reply to MisterLondon
"Lol... love number 21. " don't wait for old age to wear purple" "



I think she may be referring to the poem:

Jenny Joseph’s “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple”

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

But yeah, that is kind of a funny line

Easily the most beautiful post I've ever read on ATS

"You can sleep when you're dead."

Couldn't sleep for a week, went to the ER, waited eight hours in the lobby and they charged me $900 for a consultant and five pills.

a reply to: soulwaxer
Some good advice I suppose in the OP. But ya! Reminds me of the "sunscreen" song.