An editor’s note I first wrote in 2012 has some information that I found years before and thought it might be good to remind ourselves again to live a better life…
We may not always get it right, but we as humans are capable of making changes and doing the right thing.
Food for Thought: Instructions for Life
- Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
- Memorize your favourite poem.
- Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
- When you say, “I love you,” mean it.
- When you say, “I’m sorry,” look the person in the eye.
- Believe in love at first sight.
- Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
- Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
- In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
- Don’t judge people by their relatives.
- Talk slowly but think quickly.
- When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
- Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
- Call your mom.
- Say “Bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
- When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
- Remember the three R’s, Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for your actions.
- Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
- When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps.
- Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
- Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
- Spend some time alone.
- Open your arms to change but don’t’ let go of your values.
- Remember that sometimes silence is the best answer.
- Read more books and watch less TV.
- Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
- Trust in God but lock your car.
- A loving atmosphere in your home is important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
- In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current issues. Don’t bring up the past.
- Read between the lines.
- Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immorality.
- Be gentle with the earth.
- Pray. There’s immeasurable power in it.
- Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
- Mind your own business.
- Don’t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.
- Once a year, do something you’ve never done before.
- If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
- Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
