Rules for a Happier Life, October 24, 2006

Last night I was reading Dueces blog and it got me to thinking about life, the paths we choose, how we treat those we choose to include in our lives, and the lessons we learn or don't learn. Growing up, we are all for the most part conditioned to believe certain things and behave certain ways. Sometimes that conditioning doesn't always take. We have to learn things for ourselves. As we grow older and teach our kids we, many times, find ourselves coming full circle back around to most of the same things we were taught as children, but resisted in our youth.

Here are some (for a lack of a better word) Life Rules that my folks taught or at least tried to teach me. Some I learned the first time. Thanks Mom & Dad! Some, I had to learn for myself......Sometimes the hard way.

1. Follow the three R's Repect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for ALL of your actions.

2. Whenever you find yourself having to say "I'm Sorry" to someone, look them in the eye as you say it!

3.Remember that great love and great achievements always involve great risk.

4.If you say "I Love You," mean it.

5.Sometimes, not getting what you want is exactly what you need.

6.Don't let a little argument destroy a great friendship.

7.Spend some time alone everyday.

8.Silence is sometimes the only answer.

9.Keep yourself open to change, but don't let go of your values.

10.During disagreements with loved ones, deal with the present....don't bring up the past.

11.Expand your horizons. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

12.Leave you mark by sharing your knowledge. It's the only way to achieve immortality here on earth.

13.Remember, the best relationships are the ones where your love for each other far outweighs your need for each other.

14.Judge your success not by what you gained in the end, but by who you helped along the way.

By today's standards, most of these sound really cliched and really corny. But the funny thing is that they still work well today as much as they ever have in the past. If you think about it for a moment, I bet that some of these apply to you and you didn't even realize it. Yep! That's yet another lesson I learned as I try to pass these on to my boys. And just like me, they'll have to learn some the hard way as they work to build their own happy lives.

Til next time..........

Originally posted 10/24/06 on Yahoo 360