SLATE OF 68
- Let someone else be the smartest person in the room sometimes.
- Help people grow. At work, church, school, and at home. Don't let people drown in "sameness" - allow them to see and do something different each day.
- Being right is not nearly as much fun as being loved and being right is cold comfort on a bitter night.
- Love. Love God. Love your family. Love your spouse. Love your friends. Love your fellow man....Love your country. Love dogs....or cats...God put people and things in your path for a reason, try to find out what that reason is.
- Sometimes it is okay to just BE, just sit, just think....or nap. Be bored, boredom brings your imagination into play...people and things don't necessarily do well in constant motion.
- Not everyone is going to like you - some people are just not very smart.
- You won't like everyone - see previous statement.
- Practice saying I'm sorry until you believe it and mean it....and....use it.
- If someone shoots an arrow and you run and step in front of it, don't blame the archer or the arrow...they weren't shooting at you. You made yourself the target...because you think you are just that important. Meanwhile you caused the arrow to miss its mark. Again, aren't you important?
- The inability to recognize and admit your own shortcomings is a sign of a weak character.
- Make someone else the center of YOUR world, no one likes a narcissist.
- It's okay to say NO - with no excuses or disclaimers....just no.
- It's okay to cry. Save it for the big stuff - not everyone or everything is worth your tears.
- Look for the funny, happy moments in bad things, you will live longer. The longer you spend in anguish, the more likely it is to become your favorite shirt.
- It's okay to be skinny....it's okay to be heavy as long as you are happy being you. Just give being as healthy as you can be your best effort.
- You cannot and will not improve on God's original blueprint of you...be what God designed in every ounce of your perfection and imperfection...God does not make mistakes.
- Money can't buy happiness but it does alleviate quite a lot of stress.
- It's okay to be impulsive as long as you are willing to live with the consequences.
- Make sure you are mentally and emotionally old enough and equipped to make important life decisions....kids should never be in charge of important life changing decisions. No one is that old a soul.
- If you are a grown up....be in charge...the scariest place for a kid is somewhere they feel like no one is watching or protecting them. Oh, they love the freedom, they think. But they secretly want boundaries....there is safety in boundaries.
- Work a job like it was your business. No one will notice, but that's okay.
- If you spend all your time waiting to be offended someone will be happy to oblige.
- Looking for sin and deceit under every rock ensures you will eventually find them. Don't look...God won't take you there.
- The sooner you realize you are a composite of your mistakes and triumphs you will realize how unique you are and the happier you will be.
- Try to build on your success....don't beat yourself up with your failures.
- No one had a "perfect" childhood...that is not an excuse for being a butthead. Use that as a foundational road map to build something better.
- We are not guaranteed tomorrow....don't leave anything unsaid today.
- If you want understanding and respect...try giving it first.
- Try hard to be kind and civil to everyone but pay particular attention to the young, the sick, the afflicted, the elderly, the widowed, the orphaned, and the furry creatures. I believe you will be judged by your treatment of those because they are the ones unable to fight for themselves.
- And finally, be proactive in life as opposed to reactive.
