50 lessons of life

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 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. 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 it 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, 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 of 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 every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd 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.

100 Ways to Brighten Someone's Day

1. Call an old friend, just to say hi.


2. Hold a door open for a stranger.


3. Invite someone to lunch.


4. Compliment someone on his or her appearance.


5. Ask a coworker for their opinion on a project.


6. Bring cookies to work.


7. Let someone cut in during rush hour traffic.


8. Leave a waitress or waiter a big tip.


9. Tell a cashier to have a nice day.


10. Call your parents.


11. Let someone know you miss them.


12. Treat someone to a movie.


13. Let a person know you really appreciate them.


14. Visit a retirement center.


15. Take a child to the zoo.


16. Fill up your spouse's car with gas.


17. Surprise someone with a small gift.


18. Leave a thank-you note for the cleaning staff at work.


19. Write a letter to a distant relative.


20. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.


21. Put a dime in a stranger's parking meter before the time expires.


22. Bake a cake for a neighbor.


23. Send someone flowers to where they work.


24. Invite a friend to tea.


25. Recommend a good book to someone.


26. Donate clothing to a charity.


27. Offer an elderly person a ride to where they need to go.


28. Bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.


29. Give blood.


30. Offer free baby-sitting to a friend who's really busy or just needs a break.


31. Help your neighbor rake leaves or shovel snow.


32. Offer your seat to someone when there aren't any left.


33. Help someone with a heavy load.


34. Ask to see a store's manager and comment on the great service.


35. Give your place in line at the grocery store to someone who has only a few items.


36. Hug someone in your family for no reason.


37. Wave to a child in the car next to you.


38. Send a thank-you note to your doctor.


39. Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.


40. Leave a joke on someone's answering machine.


41. Be a mentor or coach to someone.


42. Forgive a loan.


43. Fill up the copier machine with paper after you're done using it.


44. Tell someone you believe in them.


45. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.


46. Welcome new neighbors with flowers or a plant.


47. Offer to watch a friend's home while they're away.


48. Ask someone if they need you to pick up anything while you're out shopping.


49. Ask a child to play a board game, and let them win.


50. Ask an elderly person to tell you about the good old days.


51. During bad weather, plan an indoor picnic with the family.


52. Buy someone a goldfish and bowl.


53. Compliment someone on their cooking and politely ask for a second helping.


54. Dance with someone who hasn't been asked.


55. Tell someone you mentioned them in your prayers.


56. Give children's clothes to another family when your kids outgrow them.


57. Deliver extra vegetables from your garden to the whole neighborhood.


58. Call your spouse just to say, I love you.


59. Call someone's attention to a rainbow or beautiful sunset.


60. Invite someone to go bowling.


61. Figure out someone's half-birthday by adding 182 days, and surprise them with a cake.


62. Ask someone about their children.


63. Tell someone which quality you like most about them.


64. Brush the snow off of the car next to yours.


65. Return your shopping cart to the front of the store.


66. Encourage someone's dream, no matter how big or small it is.


67. Pay for a stranger's cup of coffee without them knowing it.


68. Leave a love letter where your partner will find it.


69. Ask an older person for their advice.


70. Offer to take care of someone's pet while they're away.


71. Tell a child you're proud of them.


72. Visit a sick person, or send them a care package.


73. Join a Big Brother or Sister program.


74. Leave a piece of candy on a coworker's desk.


75. Bring your child to work with you for the afternoon.


76. Give someone a recording of their favorite music.


77. Email a friend some information about a topic they are especially interested in.


78. Give someone a homemade gift.


79. Write a poem for someone.


80. Bake some cookies for your local fire or police department.


81. Organize a neighborhood cleanup and have a barbecue afterwards.


82. Help a child build a birdhouse or similar project.


83. Check in on an old person, just to see if they're okay.


84. Ask for the recipe after you eat over at someone's house.


85. Personally welcome a new employee at work and offer to take them out for lunch.


86. While in a car, ask everyone to buckle up because they are important to you.


87. Let someone else eat the last slice of cake or pizza.


88. Stop and buy a drink from a kid's lemonade stand.


89. Forgive someone when they apologize.


90. Wave to someone looking for a parking space when you're about to leave a shopping center.


91. Send a copy of an old photograph to a childhood friend.


92. Leave a pint of your spouse's favorite flavor of ice cream in the freezer with a bow on it.


93. Do a household chore that is usually done by someone else in the family.


94. Be especially happy for someone when they tell you their good news.


95. Compliment a coworker on their role in a successful project.


96. Give your spouse a spontaneous back rub at the end of the day.


97. Serve someone in your family breakfast in bed.


98. Ask someone if they've lost weight.


99. Make a donation to a charity in someone's honor.


100. Take a child to a ballgame.