From the article: 10 Secrets of Success
Life lessons, like always being honest or maintaining a sense of humor, are the important lessons we learn. These life lessons are words we live by and also advice we can leave as our legacy to others. What life lessons have you learned, and who taught you? Share your life lessons with Senior Living readers.
Life lesson
- When I was young I liked to shoot any small object of garbage into the trash can. It would mostly be paper napkins used at diner because I didn't want to get up from the diner table. and most of the time I would miss the trash can so my mom would make me go pick it up and throw it away and she would say "a lazy person always works twice as hard" which reminded me of a poster in school that said " if you don't have time to do it right, you must have time to do it over" so from then on I tried to not be lazy at anything and do my best at school rather that leaving homework until the last minute.
- —Guest Marie
SAVED BY AN INSIGHT
- This insightful statement saved me when I was stuck in stagnation of ranks in my military career. The statement quickly changed and brightened my countenance and created a future for me, and I am now on again on my road to glorious heights in my career. The statement is: "IF I CANNOT BE HAPPY FOR NOT MAKING A TOTAL SUCCESS, I CAN BE HAPPY FOR NOT MAKING A TOTAL FAILURE." This statement came to me as an insight, which immediately brightened me up, changed my countenance and made me pleasant and attractive to my superiors who consequently went out of their ways to recommend me for promotion to the next higher rank which happened in a very short while. When I discovered this attitude of appreciation of what I already have it made me joyful and grateful to God, and the spirit of gratitude made it possible for me to gain favors both from men and from heaven and this opened up my destiny. Now I have attained the highest rank in my cadre and I am still hopeful of going up even higher.
- —Guest FESTUS IBEZIM
Born to Achieve
- Never feel worried, even when defeat invites you. Just keep on smiling and accept it, and one day the defeat will be scared of you. Believe it and apply it; you will be happy 4ever.
- —Guest srinath
What I Had to Go Through
- Over the past few months, when i was in Africa, I learned that no matter what life has in store for you, always remember these 3 things ...First, God. Remember to pray as much as you can. Second, family. Always care for the ones that love you just the way you are and will be there for you through every step of the way. And third, always have faith and you'll find yourself fighting anything that comes your way.
- —Guest nina
holding your head up
- My grandmother would always tell me to hold my head up, because I would miss the things that life has to offer me. I would always walk with my head down, but now as an adult I can see that there was more to her statement than missing life's offers. I am a stronger person with my head up. I have more confidence with my head up. And people respect me more. But most of all I can always see where life is taking me with my head up! God Bless
- —Guest selam yohannes
keep it simple
- Life can get so complicated. The basics are so easy...less stress and easier to keep up with. Simplify things in your life. You will be more peaceful and content.
- —PISTOL7254
Self respect
- The one lesson that sticks out is do not be part of other people's plans, make your own decisions. Don't let others dictate your life, be free, pay attention to what you want, not what others expect from you, otherwise you'll wake up one day to discover that you are left behind and your best years wasted.
- —Guest Lionel
see the beauty of life
- Life is all about being good and doing to others what you want others to do unto you.Wake up everyday and see the beauty of life.Be yourself in whatever you do.
- —amarkai
Enjoy each day to the fullest!
- Take some time each and every day to enjoy. Don't judge other people until you have walked in their shoes. There is some good in everybody. Love yourself as well as your neighbor!
- —SERIOUSBEV
Don't stop
- My art teacher always said," Never quit until your good is better and better is best." I learned to never give up. It can be applied to relationships, life's struggles, and goals. It gave me the confidence to keep going!
- —Guest Rachel
A broken promisse
- At 7 I was raped by my father. Each day I was kicked and hit in the face. At school I could not sit long and I had to repeat my first year. I hated the whole world--I drew pictures of graveyards & thought, wow, so peaceful. But one day the Blessed Virgin appeared to me and all the pain went away. I was on my own, of course, no one ever knew the pain I had. But I decided this is my life and I must forgive....I felt special in so many ways. I had the best husband of 29 years; he died in my arms. And three beautiful girls. Now I'm strong in spirit, never sick. My advice? Aim for good things in life and love people who are sincere--there are many.
- —Guest Diana
Handling gossip!
- When I was a little girl, I used to be upset by playmates who said unkind things about me or to me. My mother had a wonderful lesson for me which I have always remembered: She said "When someone says something unkind or untrue, simply consider the source and let it go." I have always remembered "to consider the source!"
- —Guest Depressionlass
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP!
- MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME TO HOLD MY HEAD UP, BECAUSE I WOULD MISS THE THINGS THAT LIFE HAVE TO OFFER ME. I WOULD ALWAYS WALK WITH MY HEAD DOWN, BUT NOW AS AN ADULT I CAN SEE THAT IT WAS MORE TO THAT STATEMENT THEN MISSING LIFE'S OFFERS. I AM A STRONGER PERSON WITH MY HEAD UP. I HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF WITH MY HEAD UP. PEOPLE RESPECT ME MORE WITH MY HEAD UP. BUT MOST OF ALL I CAN ALWAYS SEE WHERE LIFE IS TAKING ME WITH MY HEAD UP!! GOD BLESS, MARSHELL
- —Guest marshell Roper
What are your favorite life lessons?
- Believe in your medical decisions and pray, exercise regularly or 'you'll be sorry later, don't let people 'blow in your ears" (lie), believe in yourself and be careful of so-called friends. Don't ever let people strip you of your rights - what's right is right - even down to your parking location. Stage 4 Cancer with a positive attitude and then another different Cancer at Stage 2 - I'm way past the 2 stage of five years and have 1 year on stage 4 Bi-lateral Breast remaining. All this when I reached the North 60 factor. Be positive, respect yourself first, and never let people take over controlling your every move. Those three factors come from my father - he sure was right! Carol
- —carolteufel
life lessons
- I've picked up quite a few life lessons over the years...one that comes to mind is, if you have a partner, never go to bed mad. My wife and I always talk things out, even if if seems like something that could wait. We've been together for 52 years, and I'm looking forward to the next 50. :-)
- —Guest Monty
Focus on what's important
- Life teaches a lot of great lessons; we learn to live well by doing it. There's an old adage that most of the things we worry about never happen, which underscores the folly of spending so much time wringing our hands about situations we can't control and may never have to face. Another life lesson, frequently reinforced, is that what's urgent often crowds out what's important, so we need to remember to take our focus off the current brush fire and devote a little time to be present, appreciate the day, and find a little joy in the moments of our lives. I think it was John Lennon who said, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans," or words to that effect. One powerful life lesson for me is to avoid wishing my life away (as my mother used to advise) and to take action today on the things that have meaning for me.
- —Guest GreenGuy
life lessons
- One of my favorite life lessons came from Abe Lincoln: "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I find these words, coming from someone who may have had depression, extraordinary and inspirational.
- —Guest PianoGal