Lessons from Life
We all start off with a blank screen in life and from day one the learning begins.
When I got married at 25 years of age I thought I knew everything and had “arrived” as they say.
Until then I was treated as a boy and that I was!
As a young single missionary I remember visiting a village in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and expecting to command the attention of everyone in that village.
I observed however, that although I was afforded respect as a visiting ‘white man’ there was a missing dimension to my perceived persona.
You see I wasn’t married and what would I know about life?
Amongst the village elders I was just a boy growing up with minimum life experiance.
Of course time has quickly moved on and now that Ive reached the ‘ripe old age’ of 80, I look back over a lifetime and think to myself, what an amazing journey it has been.
Although at times looking back, I cringe a little at some of the views I’ve expressed and believed along the way.
Age has a way of bringing balance and a right perspective to life.
I am thankful that my christian values played a prominent part in guiding me through profound disappointment and that common sense helped me put it all together.
So now I ask myself what have I learned on this journey called “Life”?
I’m sure some of you would like to hear a theological discourse from me spelling out spiritual aspirations that we should follow.
However I’m not going to do that, instead I have decided to go down the common sense route and spell out things I have learnt along the way.
In fact the first course of action is to learn from others.
So here are 20 LESSON FROM LIFE from someone nearly 20 years my senior.
His name is Andy Anderson (age 99) and this is his advice.
Always maintain a good sense of humour.
Never be too good to start at the bottom.
Exercise every single day, even when you don’t feel like it.
Don’t spend more money than you make.
Having a bad job is better than having no job at all.
Eat around the mould; don’t go wasting food.
Look after yourself because apart from your mother no one else will.
Don’t ever be afraid to be your true self.
You must be able to forgive, even if it’s difficult to do.
Save your money now and spend it later.
(You can’t buy morals, manners, love, integrity, family, patience, trust, common sense, character or respect with money)
Love is not always easy; sometimes you have to work at it.
If you’re faced with a problem, don’t delay trying to figure it out. But if there’s no way to figure it out, you have to forget about it.
Make sure you’re doing what you love; don’t be afraid to follow those dreams you have for yourself.
Education is important, but not necessary. Life can be an education in itself.
Explore your world and stay curious.
Try not to take yourself so seriously.
Have common sense. Think about the most reasonable answer to every situation and feel it has to have a spiritual outcome.
Life is a gift that you must unwrap. It’s up to you to determine if what’s inside will lead you to happiness or dismay. You have the power to make that decision for yourself.
Now of course that’s from a man’s point of view!
So then I researched what women think and of course you guessed it, there are more lessons from life that never entered my head!
45 LESSONS IN FACT.
Regina Brett a cheerful 90 year old spelt this out from her experience.
Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
You can get through anything if you “stay put” in today.
A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Believe in miracles (just like our newly elected Prime Minister).
Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
Make it memorable.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back
Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Yield.
Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
So there you have it what else can I say?
Perhaps the philosophic musings from Ted should be the last word!
My full name is Frederick Christian Lever Evans, and my initials always remind me to ask myself, “Why be just anybody?”
Enjoy life by using common sense based on Gods Word and you won’t go far wrong.
Remember your family is the most precious thing you will ever have in life.
For their sake leave a good legacy.
June 1st, 2019 at 4:26 AM
Very good read & very interesting. Can always learn from someone else.
June 1st, 2019 at 6:12 AM
Well done Fred! I