Today I turn 49 years of age. I woke up in the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the Mackinac straits on lake huron. Pretty amazing life for a kid that went through second grade twice (I think I liked my teacher). If 7 is the perfect number then 49 may be the perfect age being 7 sevens. I’ve made mistakes and got a few things right. My wife, kids, and grandkids (works in progress) the grandkids that is. And all the while absolutely loving life.
I thought maybe I could give you something for my birthday. So I sat down this morning and listed 49 things I’ve learned in the past 49 years. I hope this is not too presumptuous to acknowledge my own birthday and think I have learned something along the way, but if it is, so be it. As I close out the first half of my first century (yes I fully intend to live well past 100 years) here is what i have learned:
- Be patient
- forgive
- accept forgiveness
- give
- be happy
- have joy
- laugh
- cry
- Never pass up a lemon aid stand
- Dream
- Believe
- Enjoy everything, everyday, and everyone
- Love
- Trust
- Exercise
- Learn
- Read
- Teach
- Be Flexible
- Change
- Be Disciplined
- Try everything once (well maybe not everything, but you get the point)
- Practice
- Have a Vision
- Get a good night sleep
- Manners count
- Know when to talk
- Know when to shut up
- Yell every once in a while
- Be passionate
- Focus
- Study
- Take Vacation
- Celebrate
- Create
- Walk slow through the crowd
- Say please and Thank you
- Look them in the eye
- Don’t burn bridges
- Everybody’s a Keeper
- Faith is foundation
- Truth is the standard
- Be Teachable
- Serve
- Be Generous
- Enjoy Life
- Party
- Embrace humor
- Be Trustworthy
What have you learned through your years???