What wisdom have you learned that has made the biggest difference in your life?

That there is nothing more restorative than time spent in nature. This morning I saw a deer with three-week-old twin fawns.

@Marina: Here too we have baby (still dappled) fawns, baby wild turkeys, and baby rabbits. After a while, they discover one’s garden and then become less charming.

I learned the hard way to keep every door inside my house open so that 1) Milo could access his litter box and 2) so that I would not accidently shut him in somewhere and think he was outside, lost, cold, and possibly eaten by foxes or owls.

I am learning to stress over nothing, particularly if I have no control of the situation. I am learning that the breath is soothing and cleansing.

I never deny the truth. Typically, if someone questions a lie you’ve told, they already know it’s a lie. So don’t deny it.

Learning to trust the people who are important in your life.

Also, beer is good.

I’ve learned never get married at age eighteen.

It has not particularly improved my life, but I recently found out that people are really capable of the most amazing act of heroism and sacrifice, the most wonderful artistic creation, the most lovely heartfelt gesture, of generosity and compassion, of fraternity and co-operation. Yet the very same people are just as capable of committing the most hideous crimes, of being utterly sadistic and terrifyingly violent, heartless and hateful, vile and deceiptful, and downright evil. What’s even more amazing is how we can often combine both behaviours, even at the same time.

It has not helped me much, but it surely was an eye-opener.

If you want something, work hard for it and don’t stop until you get it. My dad has passed that onto myself and my brother and I am thankful he did.

The Golden Rule has played a large part in how I treat people.

Always look at a situation from the other persons’ point of view.

Consistently moving forward, even small steps one can achieve anything.

Avoid worry at all cost it is pointless and harmful.

Friends/Family are individuals and are not who you are.

True motivation is born from meaning if you don’t understand the meaning behind what you are doing you will eventually lose all motivation.

Toxic friends/family aren’t worth the effort and emotion dump the friends and minimize contact with those family members.

The cliche is true you will “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar…”

People seek information that confirms their biases.

Stop procrastinating.

@Facade I will tomorrow.

@gailcalled I have been amazed at how many foxes there are here. I have seen several. I agree about the garden ravaging. On Whidbey Island, if you wanted a garden you had to build a really tall fence and possibly net the top.

I remember once our downstairs neighbor asked if we had cut her roses. (Of course we hadn’t.) The deer had eaten them all off at the same height with such precision, it looked like clippers!

That one doesn’t need to be right.

@Marina: And I heard recently that a stray cat had wandered onto someone’s deck. The noise that the three foxes (who had him cornered) made woke the dog (inside) up. Dog’s barking woke up owner who rushed to deck and frightened the three foxes.

The main one has been concerned with germs and bacteria. But it is just too iconoclastic to give details about. But it has been extremely useful to know. I am only prepared to say that there are counter views to the prevailing notions on the subject. Look into it if you wish. But don’t expect a debate from me about it.

The Law of Cause and Effect has been of great use also.

Little is truly as it seems.

Genuinely embrace the wisdom of your elders.

If you fail at something you’ve just got to brush yourself off, regroup, and keep going

I’m proud of my ability to admit that I am wrong. I don’t think admitting I am wrong is a bad thing.

I hate stubborn people that will never admit fault.

@hug_of_war To add to your idea I think I have learned that failure will happen, when it use it as an opportunity to learn then move on.

@johnpowell absolutely agree.

It’s not marriage that changes a person the most, it is bringing a child into the world that changes you more than anything. Also, college is worth it.

@MrBr00ks Yes, marriage didn’t change me all that much, a little yes. But a child wow what a transformation.

Do NOT take crap from ANYONE.

ANYONE.

Sometimes you HAVE to take relatives out of your life.

~I learned that you have to keep your loved ones close with you or else something can happen and they’ll be gone before you know it.
~Have confidence in yourself and just be you.
~Don’t lie because it won’t get you anywhere.

That reminds me of another I got from “The Godfather”:

__Keep your enemies closer then you keep your friends.__

Yep! :) I got it from that I think! :)

@Quagmire: De NOT take caps from ANYONE. ANYONE

I’ve learned that it’s not a good idea to insult the alligator until after you’ve crossed the river.

Learn to laugh at yourself.

Accept loss. Accept change. Be able to move forward.

“Endless duration makes good no better, nor white any whiter. If the rose at noon has lost the beauty it had at dawn, the beauty it had then was real. Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it. If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy. We can none of us step into the same river twice, but the river flows on and the other river we step into is cool and refreshing too. ”

I try to think of this any time I become painfully nostalgic about something. Even when something good is gone, I know I had my share of enjoyment of it, and there are plenty of more good things to experience in the future.

And to go along with @limeaide:
“Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.”

And might as well post the whole thing, since I think it’s full of useful wisdom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

That mistakes end a whole lot faster when you own up to them, rather than trying to justify why you made it. Apologize, fix the situation, put it behind you.

@le_inferno Awesome, blast from the past. Thanks!

My old man didn’t give me much advice but a couple of things he said stick with me:
1. You can’t worry until you know.
2. Talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whiskey.

From another who is very important in my life:
1. There are times when it is better to ask forgiveness then permission.
2. When looked at from the right perspective life’s tests can truly be considered healing medicine
3. Never underestimate the power of true love.

Being happy is a choice you can make.

Not burning bridges, causing the least amount of harm as I make my way.

The biggest difference I’ve learned is to keep going on with the 3 L’s
Live and let Live
Learn so you don’t make mistakes
Love everyone, yet some more than others.

Be the change you want to see – Mahatma Gandhi

@mattbrowne Lurve given for Gandhi quote.

When you get married, spend a lot of quality time with your spouse before planning for children. I love my children, but my husband and I have had absolutely no personal time and it shows!
Don’t try to keep your kids in a bubble! They will never be 100% safe 100% of the time!

Don’t let great get in the way of good. Meaning don’t be a perfectionist it takes too much time and isn’t worth it. Good is well good enough.

Anger gets you in trouble. Pride keeps you there.

My dad once told me that patience is very important when making decisions. Especially with family problems. We all need time to think, to let any extreme emotions subside. Give it a few days. It has helped to resolve problems for me in the past.

forgiving. Oh, if only we could go back…....

Your life will be much happier if you can somehow learn to like yourself.

No matter how bad things seem, they always get better. And going through tough times only makes you stronger in the end.

You gotta take risks in life, especially for love, cause it ain’t about the money, honey

Great answer @Zen !

Thanks @mattbrowne – long time no see! Miss ya!

Life really does go on.

@AlyxCaitlin Good one I forgot, I’ve heard as “This too shall pass.”

You might not feel like it does, but life DOES go on :] There will always be sunshine after the rain

Some things just aren’t worth the stress

I have learned that it is not what you know but who you know. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Garlic is wonderful! Rum, coke and ice is even better. Dark chocolate wins hands down.

@Velvetinenut Cranberry juice is chock full of vitamin C and anti-oxidants. With vodka it’s even better.

Zen: I’ll drink to that!

Recently to double my daily intake of vitamin D3 (and never to cheat on my exercise program.)

That the older I get, the more interesting things there are to learn.

That I missed the “two-hour bloom”: on my night-blooming cereus having watched it do bloody nothing for three years, is something I will survive (I think).

I found the dishrag-like appendage the following morning.

Link for cereus

gailcalled: I hope you get to see it again. My neighbour’s plants blooms frequently and I am lucky to see it when I come home from working late (around midnight). They sure open fast!

p.s. I agree with you that the older one gets, the more interesting things there are to learn.

@Velvetinenut:

Where is your neighbor’s plant located and what climate zone is she in?Describe the aroma,,

We are in Singapore in the tropics. I can’t properly describe the aroma – can’t remember it. I paid more attention to the visual rather than the olfactory. It has been quite a while since I last saw the plant with fully bloomed flowers. Will try to post the aroma description at my next encounter with the blooms.

How others behave towards you, in the end, most often has very little to do with you personally.

I took my abuse as a child quite personally for many, many, many years, as a child would. But recently I figured out that if there had been another child in my place, the same thing would have happened to him or her. The behavior of those adults in my life at that time had nothing to do with anything inherent in me or my personality, but rather had to do with these people needing control over something or someone in their otherwise uncontrolled lives. I simply happened to be there.

@aprilsimnel very intuitive

Hmm im only 19 so havent learnt much yet, respect and treat others how you would like to be treated? Thanks mum.
Also dont grab a bull by the horns! or you Will get hurt.

I was introduced to the concepts of life is too short and you only live once and live each day like there is no tomorrow annnnd if you never give up you can’t possibly lose. A very profound concepts and has made me re-examine the who what and where parts of my every day life and I smile a lot more because of it. But the best piece of advice I ever got was from a girl at my dorm laundry room who showed me to fold your jeans before you thrown them in the dryer has saved me by now hundreds of hours of ironing!

@Cruiser
Who the hell irons jeans? o_O

@le_inferno I did I had to the way I did laundry! My clothes always looked they were done with a combine until I learned a few tricks….like you don’t wash all the clothes at once by packing in as much as you can jam in the washer…

I jam all my clothes in the washer and dryer, they turn out fine.

@Cruiser—Iron your jeans?Life is too short!! ;)))—

Maybe I am dating myself here as this was all back when jeans were made of cotton….100% cotton that shrank 2 sizes when you washed them and then had to iron them if you didn’t fold them first before tossing them in the dryer!! I mean we are all talking about bell bottoms here??

@cruiser—Don’t they become “unfolded” in the dryer??Where do you go on your dates with yourself?lol! :)

@Sarcasm ewwww, I wonder what you mean by “fine”?

Well, I either mean they suddenly became attractive, or the quality was satisfactory. You be the judge!

If you are anything like my husband, he wouldn’t know wrinkled jeans from any other kind. He simply doesn’t pay attention to clothes.

Edit: They all look ‘fine’ as far as he’s concerned.

Just fold them as soon as they’re out of the dryer. Problem solved.

@l

@lucillelucillelucille…I forgot to add the part about clamping the folded jeans with C clamps and plywood….no ironing needed! ;)

Question everything, most especially yourself.

You’ll never be younger than you are as you read this comment.