Thursday 11 April 2013

to thank a friend

Regular readers (hehe...I love how I assume I have regular readers!) will know that earlier this year I flew up to North QLD to help a very dear friend, Bec, celebrate her 30th birthday...

Birthdays and age are things that we have discussed many a time over a cup of tea and some chocolate (OK blocks of chocolate....don't judge us!). I am a few years older than Bec and struggled with the dreaded 30th birthday for a few months leading up to it but Bec was one of my many wonderful friends who was there to help me celebrate so I knew I had to repay the favour.

After her celebrations were over Bec wrote all the guests a thank you letter and included a little Life Lesson letter in mine for me and I am sad to say I have only just gotten a chance to sit down and really read it and absorb it...

She found it on the internet and they were written by a lady called Regina Brett, she titled them 45 lessons life taught me and was written the day before her 45th birthday. I think that they are life lessons we could all do with remembering.....

1.    Life isn't fair, but it's still great
2.    When in doubt, just take the next small step
3.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone
4.    Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch
5.    Pay off your credit cards every month
6.    You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree
7.    Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone
8.    It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it
9.    Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck
10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile
11.  Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present
12.  It's OK to let your children see you cry
13.  Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
14.  If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it
15.  Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks
16.  Take a deep breath, it calms the mind
17.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
18.  Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger
19.  It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else
20.  When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer
21.  Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special
22.  Over prepare, then go with the flow
23.  Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple
24.  The most important sex organ is the brain
25.  No one is in charge of your happiness but you
26.  Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter..?'
27.  Always choose life
28.  Forgive everyone, everything
29.  What other people think of you in none of your business
30.  Time heals almost everything. Give time, time
31.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change
32.  Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does
33.  Believe in miracles
34.  God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do
35.  Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now
36.  Growing old beats the alternative - dying young
37.  Your children only get one childhood
38.  All that truly matters in the end is that you loved
39.  Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere
40.  If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back
41.  Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need
42.  The best is yet to come
43.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
44.  Yield
45.  Life isn't tied with a bow, but it is a gift.


Reading through there are some lessons listed here that I have definitely learnt and totally agree with, like number 4, 10 and 25. There are some I wish I had learnt earlier, like number 5! And then there are others that I am not so sure about...

There are times when I am such a fence sitter and totally unsure of what I believe in, I'm not sure I believe in fate, I'm not sure I believe everything happens for a reason but one thing I am certain of, I am so very very thankful that Bec was brought into my life as she has become like another sister to me and I can't imagine my life without her. I met Bec about 6 years ago when we were both teaching at the same school. I am very blessed and thankful that with my career as a teacher I have had the opportunity to travel and work all over QLD and it has resulted in so many wonderful friends.

I am thankful to Bec for sharing these life lessons with me as it has once again forced me to have a look at my life from a different angle...

What life lesson have you learnt....?


Linking up with Leigh from Six by the Bay for one of my favourite linkys... Thankful Thursday

                                                           Thankful Thursday

10 comments:

  1. I was just nodding my head the ENTIRE way through this Zita. This is great, I'm going to print out and try and read once a month just to remind myself of them all. I've learned that there is no point in worrying about something that might never happen!! Em

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    1. Great isn't it! And what a great lesson from you to add to the list! Thanks for stopping by again Em!

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  2. I can't pick a favourite, they are all fabulous!xx Nikki@Wonderfully Women

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  3. I love this list. I have it in my drawer and occasionally pull it out and have another read of it. There is nothing on that list that shouldn't be there.
    It's great to have friends like Bec - so glad that even though you don't teach together, you are still such good friends.
    Have a great day !
    Me

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  4. Oh wow Zita - I love that list! There are some very important messages there. I love it so much, I'm going to share your post on my FB page :-) Min xo

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    1. Thanks Min! It's great isn't it!! Really makes you think! Thanks for stopping by..

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  5. Excellent list of life lessons. I particularly like #26

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  6. So true! Have to make that part of my mantra in my head! Lol..

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  7. I am working on that making peace with my past one....

    Happy Thankful Thursday -- would love you to come link up! http://theresjustonemommy.com/2013/04/10/thankful-thursday-spring-picnics/

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  8. I love this list. Its all that I try to put out there. Life is NOW and we have to love it and enjoy it. Some people wait for the special times but they are happening now. Your friend sounds very special xxx

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