I read this the other day while sitting in a waiting room in my physician's office. It's by author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. He wrote this poem for his son who was leaving home and heading out in the world. But I think it has wider applications for us all - don't you?
Sing in the shower.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
Never refuse homemade brownies.
Strive for excellence, not perfection.
Plant a tree on your birthday.
Learn 3 clean jokes.
Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.
Compliment 3 people every day.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.
Keep it simple.
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Floss your teeth.
Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.
Overtip breakfast waitresses.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Say, "Thank you" a lot.
Say, "Please" a lot.
Avoid negative people.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Wear polished shoes.
Remember other people's birthdays.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Carry jumper cables in your truck.
Have a firm handshake.
Send lots of Valentine cards.
Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
Look people in the eye.
Be the first to say hello.
Use the good silver.
Return all things you borrow.
Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.
Keep a few secrets.
Sing in a choir.
Plant flowers every spring.
Have a dog or cat
Always accept an outstretched hand.
Stop blaming others.
Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Wave at kids on school busses.
Be there when people need you.
Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
Don't expect life to be fair.
Never underestimate the power of love.
Drink champagne for no reason at all.
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
Compliment even small improvements.
Keep your promises no matter what.
Marry for love.
Rekindle old friendships.
Count your blessings.
Call your mother.
For more of Life's Little Lessons, go to the author's website
37 comments:
So many of those I try to make a part of my daily life. The one I'm working closely on now is "strive for excellence not perfection".
All wonderful suggestions for living right :-) Now if it were only that easy to maintain in such a crazy world.
Excellent words of wisdom! Number two could change the world...
Amen. And thank you. :o)
[this was just what I needed today!]
I like these a lot :)
i know i can def. live up to #5, no questions asked :)
Yes, some good advice. Though I cannot drink any champagne for any reason.
Some I've always done, some I've learned, some I'm adding to my list!
Thank you as always!
alan
Yes, they are all practical tips Dr. Deb. You can never go wrong if you do all of these things. Thanks for the post. Smile. God bless and have a nice and wonderful day and weekend.
I to try and make these part of daily life, glad to hear others do to!
I love it!
Here's one "clean joke" :)
Driving home after working late the other day, I was stopped by a police officer for speeding. I explained that I was rushing home to be with my spouse on our first anniversary, which was the truth.
However, instead of being let off with a warning, the officer said, "Congratulations!" and then proceeded to write out the ticket. As he handed it to me, he said, "The first year is paper, right?"
I'm going to print that and give it to my girls...words we all should live by!
That reminds me. I once had a psychology professor who said that if you marry for money, love will come later, and you'll never have to argue about money... Of course, I don't believe that, but it's an interesting thought. LOL.
Hello Dr. Deb.
I wandered over here form Godwhacker's blog. Great blog, I'm happy to have found you.
I have(had?) a copy of this book. I had forgotten about it. Thank you for reminding me.
That's a great list, Deb :) Thanks for posting this!
Oh I loved that!
I really feel the need to to cross stitch that onto a pillow or something:)
I love this poem
I like reading things like this. It gives us things to think about.
Well pretty much sums it up, especially the toilet seat... if you have a wife and daughters leaving it up can really shorten the time you have to work on the list...;o)
Those are the words to live by.
That was me up there. I made a goof.
My favorites are floss your teeth and wave to children on school buses. For some reason, kids seem to get a real kick out of it when people do that. And if you floss your teeth, you can smile bigger when you wave!
And if we all lived like that the world would be a much happier place. And I try, really I do.
we couldnt get past drink champagne for no reason at all hehehee only cause we do that lmao at lot
JAde,
I liked this poem. Made me smile!
Dear BArbara,
Number two definitely could change the world.
Dear TK,
Wasn't it a nice read?
Dear Dawn,
Tee hee, me too. Love brownies.
Dear Scott,
I don't drink either.
Dear Alan,
Some for me in all categories too!
Dear Mel,
Aren't they sweet sentiments.
dear Casdok,
I strive as well on a daily basis too.
Dear PT,
So glad you did.
Dear GW,
THAT joke was HILARIOUS!
Dear Dr. G,
My family gp had it in her waiting room and also in each of the consultation rooms on the wall. I thought it was great!
Dear Lone,
What a thing to say! I don't subscribe to it either.
Dear Bruce,
YOu have this?!?! How smart are you :)Thanks for visiting.
Dear Donna,
Inspirational words are important to me and I like to share great excerpts when I can.
Dear Ms. L,
If you do, take a photo for us to all see.
Dear EVI,
Me too. It touched me.
Dear Marie,
I added many of those in the poem to my list of things to do!
Dear BB,
LOL!!!
Dear Miranda,
Yup, to live by!
Dear Lynn,
I always wave at school buses too.
Most times my waves are returned with smiles and more waves. Though every now and then I get a tongue stuck out or worse - they flip me the finger.
Dear Ian,
I try too.
Dear JIP,
Glad your funny bone was tickled.
~Deb
I agree with all of them, and try to follow them as much as I can.
What a wonderful list.
Thank you for sharing.
Hope you are well.
Have a great week.
Take care, Meow
life changing little tips they are.
Loved this post. Very wise words, and I shall have to try and order the book.
I'm really good at counting my blessings!
And I have SO many of them!
as a former waitress ... I have to say ... I love the tip advice!
Wise indeed! love that and passed on the post and the link to my kids :)
Do the weeks really go along at half the pace of the weekends? I swear it was just friday evening..
hope you are well...
I have trouble striving for excellence rather than perfection. What happens is I often fail to achieve perfection (since I'm not God or anything) and then I get burned out and just quit or change directions completely. Good collection of phrases.
This was great! I do a lot of them and some others I should add.
Excellence vs perfection is resonating within me. :)
Thanks Dr Deb! :)
...about half way through I started thinking about my Mom's lectures...had an anxiety attack, and quickly scrolled down to the end :-)
Dear Meow,
I love the list.
Dear Jazzy,
Well said.
Dear Mysti,
YOu can go to the website for exceprts.
Dear Tai,
I think that is what I do best. REalize what I have is important. It helps to ground me too.
Dear Dreaming,
I always tip big, breakfast lunch or dinner!
Dear Kath,
I'm convinced the world is spinning faster on its axis.
Dear Debaser,
What a great acheivement if you could get the excellence thing down. Perfection is overrated and unrealistic!
Dear Seaspray,
Yup, trying one's best is all that matters. Perfection is not attainable!
Dear Wendy,
I am so sorry for the trigger :(
~Deb
Beautiful :)
Great list, how about another one:
When you're worried about something, put it in perspective and ask yourself if it will matter in five years.
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