Today I think I will give my future self a nod.
Advice to My Future Self
1. Do not regret or forget your past, but do not live there, either. Yesterday is over and done, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. But you have today. Grasp it, shake it, and take whatever falls out.
2. Be kind to yourself in deed and in thought. No one will take better care of you than you.3. Stand up for the things you believe in. You have a strong moral code and a tremendous sense of right and wrong. The things you value are good and true. Do not doubt this.
4. Acknowledge your talents, and use them.
5. Be positive. The glass is half full, the water tastes good, and the air on the other side is clean and breathable. There is nothing wrong with getting wet.
6. Be proud of your accomplishments but do not rest on those laurels. You have more to do.
7. Be patient with others. Everyone, including you, still has much to learn. 8. Take risks. You don't need to go hang gliding, but do broaden your world and open your arms to take in those who are hovering on your circumference. You might be surprised.
9. Dance, damn it! I don't care if your feet hurt and your back aches. Dance like there is no tomorrow. For all you know, there isn't.10. Love. Love those who hate you, and those who have hurt you. Love the bad until it turns into good, and love the good until it becomes better.
11. Make your home your own. If you want to paint, paint. If you want to renovate, renovate. You live there. Make it yours. Who cares if no one else likes that color?12. Learn something new every day. You love to learn - so learn more. Take more classes, investigate a new hobby.
13. Be creative. Invent, paint, write, figure out a new way to use a wheel. Turn old things into new, rediscover old uses and make them more than they were.
And some extras:
Be brave.
Practice kindness.
Be mindful.
Contemplate the spiritual.
What advice would you give to yourself, I wonder? What advice would you give me as I embark on this last half of my life?Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 242nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
A beautiful post, Anita. Congratulations on earning your master's! My Thursday Thirteen Post
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDance is good advice right now. Time to celebrate!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMake own home - paint - renovate. I'm so doing that soon!
ReplyDeleteNow you've got me wondering what I would tell my future self :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great TT!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2012/05/do-you-still-have-faith-in-marriage/
I love #9. I must remind myself to dance, literally and metaphorically.
ReplyDeleteThese are great reminders. The only qualification I would have is with #10, I'd say sometimes you have to do that from a distance.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer I'd say, "Take good notes!"
Congratulations on earning your M.A.! Hollins' commencements must be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis list is good advice for all!
Great advice! My advice would be to squeeze every drop of joy from each day, because the last thing you want is to look back with regrets.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I'm going to tell Kelly today, "Let's practice kindness. Who can we be kind to?"
ReplyDeleteI don't know what advice I'd give you. It seems like you've got it all together. You're getting your masters degree!
I'd tell myself, "Ride like you said you were going to! And write that friggin' book already!"