50 life lessons

“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
                                                                                  William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

While my friends have started to send me aunt acid’s jokes and I have been officially been welcomed to the grandma’s club, the most common question I am asked is how do I feel on getting older. Being half a century old and becoming a grandmother are attributes to be called ‘old’ but for me age is just a number. I have certainly acquired some wisdom highlights over the years but not guaranteeing any intelligence whatsoever. I would jump to go to Disney world any time of the year and cuddly toys are still my very favourite possessions. While my life has been fairly beautiful, it certainly has given me moments that brought me to a deeper understanding of the world.

I can’t deny the fact that five decades gave me many powerful lessons to live by.

So fifty and counting:

      1.     Life passes too quickly. Cherish every moment.

      2.     Live in the present. What you have today might not last till tomorrow. 

      3.   Stop living your life for other people. Live it for yourself. You are the most important person in your life.

      4.   Fear of public opinion is the biggest fear of life. Get rid of it.
      5.  You can’t please everyone all the time. Try to please yourself for a change.
      6.  Never be afraid of following your heart even if it means being silly.
      7.  Everyone around you will not love you or like you so stop trying to be liked and loved. Be yourself.
      8.  Nobody cares what labels you wear. Wear what you like. Set your own trends.
      9.  Follow your heart but don’t forget that you have a brain.
     10. You were born with a purpose. Find it. Live it. 

    11. The most important person that you have to please is yourself.
    12. Don’t take everything personally. Be your biggest supporter and critic.

     13. Simplicity is often the best policy.

     14. The best gift to give and receive is a book. Read at least one book every month.

     15. The best attitude to have is a smile.

     16. Read something positive every day.

     17. Marry for life, not for falling in love at the first sight.

     18. Make your life partner your best friend.

     19. Spend more time with your spouse than your phone.

     20. Your kids are not you. Let them live their own life.

     21. Live life without regrets. You are in full control of your life.

     22. There are no failures in life, there are misfortunes which are like stepping stones, they are signs to take another path.

    23. Most of the learning takes place on the path to your destination. Enjoy the journey without rushing to reach your destination.

    24. It is the journey that gives us the experience, not the destination.

    25. Do not hoard or keep your treasured possessions for tomorrow. Use them today. Life is too short. With time either you will lose interest or the things will age.

    26. Give and help without expecting anything in return.

    27. Visualizing success and having a certain amount of faith never lets you down.

    28. We don’t need a degree to master the art of happiness. Let it sprout.

    29. Make your mind your servant and not your boss.

    30. Be open to learning. Learn from everyone, everything and everywhere.

    31. Learn the art of listening.

    32. Being kind is always better than being right.

    33. Love your partner to death but develop the strength to live without them.

    34. Give yourself time.

    35. Exercise your mind and soul like you exercise your body.

    36. Physical work keeps you fit.

    37. Start to enjoy what you really hate. It will improve the quality of your life.

    38. Stop worrying about the ‘What Ifs’. What if it doesn’t happen?

    39. Dream and it will start. Believe and it will happen.

    40. Switch your mobile off at night.

    41. Do not forget to play the grateful game every day.

    42. Never judge people, it only complicates relationships.

    43. Don’t expect anything from anyone.
    44. Life is a gift. Treat it like one.
    45. You don’t have to wait for happy moments, create your own happiness.46. Acknowledge that we are only in control of certain things.47. Being nice doesn’t mean that I will always be treated nicely, the world is full of unfairness and I will get a share of it. That should not stop us from being nice.48. Learn the art of giving, it is much more joyful than receiving.50. We are as brave as we feel it.

So here’s to 5 decades, 50 years, 600 months, 2,600 weeks, 18,262 days, 438,228 hours, 26,297,280 minutes and 1,557,836,800 seconds.