04/23/2019
From Dr. Mee-Lee
I recently came across Jonathan Look's article of about a year ago on "21 Unvarnished Truths About Retirement"
I don't plan to totally "retire" and hang out the "Gone Fishin'" sign. But I am putting more spaces in my schedule to do more travel and leisure. As I read Look's 21 Truths, it was evident that these weren't just relevant to retirement, but pearls about life for everyone.
Jonathan Look quoted Hunter S. Thompson: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
You can read the whole list, but here are my top 10 favorites out of the 21 Unvarnished Truths. I'll keep the same numbering of the article so you can compare them with your top 10:
2. Be curious. See both sides. Stubbornness is not strength. When given new information, strong people develop and evolve their opinions. We can grow when we can admit we are wrong. Your life stagnates when you are wrong, but you refuse to admit it.
4. You don't have to wait for an apology to forgive. We have all been wronged at one time or another. Waiting for an apology from someone who may never give offer one is a waste of life. Who cares? Hell, if this is a gray area and it's possible the other person is waiting for an apology from you, apologize first. What does it matter? Life is too precious to play those kind of games.
7. Ambition can be a killer. I hate to break it to you, but you aren't going to be Number One in everything you do. Breathe, and be satisfied, with the act of living today. Don't let blind ambition cause you to lose sight of what is important. Savour all of life's moments, even the bad ones, because you only get so many and you may wish you had paid more attention.
8. Your aspirations mean nothing. Well, they mean nothing if you don't make an effort to realize them. Take action to get the things you want.
9. Stop complaining. Most people don't care about your problems; some are happy you have them. Complaining only serves to keep negatives at the center of your life.
11. You can't make people happy. You can listen. You can be kind. You can smile. You can respect. You can offer assistance. You can contribute tools. But people are responsible for their own happiness (see No. 9).
13. You are responsible. You may not be at fault for what happens, but you get to choose how you respond to everything. Yes, everything. Your response to anything is a choice. You are response-able.
16. Your bucket list is crap. Putting things on a bucket list can be just another way of deferring your aspirations. Sure, go ahead and make a list but remember: life goes on while you are making plans. Lists are useless unless we utilize them.
18. Time is your most valuable asset. You only get so much, and that is it. You can't horde it. You can't get it back. You can't turn back the clock. The best you can do is to start investing your time wisely.
20. In the end, we are all dead. Make that phone call or send an email to let someone know you are thinking of him or her. Better yet, go visit. Mend fences, hug, show appreciation, be kind to people. Don't be complacent; you never know when the people you thought would be there forever will be gone.
What are your top 10 "Unvarnished Truths"?
