UNSOLICITED ADVICE"

Like most of you, I receive a lot of unsolicited "lifestyle advice" in my junk e-mails. Most I glance at and then pitch.

But, one I received recently was not only interesting, but timely.

It reminded me, from time to time we need to review the life lessons we learned,  from a parent, teacher, or mentor and/or possibly just our life experience. I hope you'll agree.

Here are a few of my favorites.

1. "Stop spending time with the wrong people." ( I  agree
 and decided  to practice that one again, not that long ago.)

 "Life is too short to spend time with people who suck
 the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their
 life, they'll make room for you.

 You  shouldn't have to fight for a spot."

 (To that one I add, "too many people misinterpret our
 kindness for weakness.")

 2. "Stop trying to hold on to the past".You can't start
 the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your
 last one." ( I plead guilty).

 3. "Stop berating yourself for old mistakes." (a possible corollary to "2".)

(Why should we  waste so much time committing this
mistake, simply because there are way too many unhappy
people out there who are so willing to do it for us.

Why not use the time constructively and start a positive
list? What are the things you do right? What do you do
when someone pays you a compliment ?  Save them.

The author clarified this last "tip" which I've paraphrased slightly.

(a) "There is merit in making mistakes, as it happens to all
of us, and by making them, it helps us to find the person
and things that are right for us." (Been there - Done that!)

(b)   "We need to realize that we are NOT our mistakes, we
 are NOT our struggles, and we are here NOW with
 the power to shape our day and our future.

(c)   "Mistakes in our life are preparing us. Everything that
ever happened to us is preparing us for a moment that is
yet to come."

This one caused me to pause and smile as I  recalled a
100 year old female friend who I was visiting in a
nursing home years ago. Despite her advanced age she
was still sharp and had retained a delightful sense of humor.

During that visit she confided she had no clue why
she was "still around."

I did what I assume most of us would have done and tried
to ease her discomfort by offering, "Perhaps God still has
something for you to do".

She quickly responded: "Tell God, I've done enough.
Get somebody else!"

I'll keep one of my favorites (4) "Stop holding grudges"
for a later blog.

Enough unsolicited advice. Now it's time for me to
practice it.