After making progress on estate planning, documenting financial records, and updating family history, it suddenly occurred to me that I should make a list of life lessons I have learned along my life journey.
Obviously, these life lessons are a lot more than strictly financial, but certainly they will contribute to overall success and a fulfilling life for the next generation.
I came up with these and put them in a document along with my financial records. Hopefully, someday it will help the next generations in my family. Here is my list of 10.
1. Live your own dreams, not someone else’s
2. Believe and invest in yourself
3. Focus on health, family, financial security and a purpose larger than yourself
4. Be a lifelong learner
5. Be self aware and know who you are and what makes you tick
6. Learn from failures and keep moving
7. Be positive to overcome life’s many challenges
8. Give to receive
9. Start small, think big
10. Leave everyone better than you found them
Everyone has different life experiences and value systems. What life lessons would you like to pass on to the next generation?
Remember to use time wisely. Once spent it’s gone forever. Unlike money, which can be earned again.
This is true for all ages, but specially important to retirees. With a limited health span, time is more precious than ever.
From my mom- “You are as good as anyone else…be confident.” I taught this to my daughters and they (and I) are passing this along to their kids. I have a 5 1/2 year old grandson who has many adults he is “friends” with and he holds mature conversations with. It’s amazing and wonderful to watch his confidence and interactions with people.
My parents taught me how to appreciate life. Always say, Thank You. Be especially attentive to older folks, and challenged folks, they need a little assist here and there. Simple things, a Smile is always welcome, hold a door open. Be a good listener, be kind, and help your neighbor. It is really nice to see that spirit come out especially after a fire, or flood, or the like. And yes, learn from your failures, we can all do better for our fellow citizens.
1.Read the Bible every day.
2.Don’t be afraid to learn new things.
3.Buy a house you can afford and pay the mortgage off as soon as you can.
4.Use cash whenever possible.
5.The best usually costs less, learn to wait for the best to come on sale.
6.Don’t let other people run your life.
6.Being wise is different then being smart. Getting wisdom(the correct application of knowledge) is the principal thing (see 1).
Learn from other people’s mistakes.
Plan years in advance.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Realize that if you ar born in the United States that you have already won the lottery. The rest is up to you!
Don’t worry if the times are bad. The times have always been bad.
The times are never so bad that a good person cannot live in them.
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.
How small a part of all that human hearts endure can laws or kings either cause or cure.
Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.
If you can be happy for others, you can have more happiness.
Some more life lessons to ponder:
To make sure opportunity knocks on the door, put in more doors.
Be nice to people on the way up. You will need their help on the way down.
Surround yourself with friends who are better than yourself.
Invest in meaningful experiences and not material possessions
Forgive and forget. Life is too short to harbor resentment for long.
Never regret major decisions. Learn from it, make it work and deal with it.
Remember when things go so badly for you, you still have things that others can only dream about. Be thankful for what you have.
Identify role models and follow in their footsteps till you establish yourself to be a role model for many.
Everything in life is temporary and can be taken away at any time. Enjoy before you lose them.
Stuff happens and always will, try to always have a backup plan. Never give up.
1) Don’t live a parochial life.
It’s a big world out there, go explore it, and the people in it.
2) On your deathbed you are more likely to think back on experiences you had, than objects you bought.
Do the right thing even when no one is looking.
From my dad, “Anticipate a problem long before it happens and act to avoid it.” Timeless advice.
Read the poem “The men who don’t fit in”:
It has served me well!
You piqued my curiosity, so I asked Dr. Google. Here’s a link to the poem:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58012/the-men-that-dont-fit-in
Be kind, be kind, be kind.
That is great advice.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy
Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind
The race is long and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Mary Schmich
Laughter is the best medicine. Making others laugh is the greatest gift, and seeing them laugh is the richest reward.
Keep Life Simple
Missing somebody? – Call
Wanna meet up? – Invite
Wanna be understood? – Explain
Have questions? – Ask
Don’t like something? – Fix it
Like something? – State it
Want something? – Work for it
Love someone? – Tell them
Excellent list, and a fine opportunity for the rest of us to contemplate what’s important. #10 really hit me – I’ve seen a similar thought about “leaving everything” better. But #10’s emphasis on “everyone” is pretty profound. Here’s a few others that I like.
1) Be humble. The more I learn the more I realize how little I know..
2) It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing. Even if it’s hard.
3) This to shall pass. (shameless plug for a previous article – but still true).
4) One of my nephews founded a successful business. His corporate motto was “Be brilliant. Be fearless. Be kind.” He is.
Great list. One that’s been on my mind lately: Try to see the world through the eyes of others, and — until they prove otherwise — don’t assume their intentions are bad.
https://www.desiderata.com/desiderata.html
Jonathan, the prose/poem, Desiderata by Max Ehrmann says it all too.
Comparison is the death of joy.
That’s a beauty.
Great. Will go into my list.