Maria Shriver 60 Life Lessons for my Birthday....

Maria Shriver has written many books I just finished this one. It is a very thought-provoking, reflecting,  meditating, prayerful book. I suggest the book to anyone.

In one of the last chapters she wrote about 60 life lessons that she listed on her 60th birthday. A good list, I agree with most but not all I share with you.

1.There is nothing about life that’s predicable, so stop trying to predict it. Right on

2. Find every excuse you can to celebrate it.

3. Love the age you are and stop wishing you were a different one. yes..yes

4. Stop worrying about what others think. It’s a huge waste of your time. A life long lesson, easier said then done. I do know

5. Stop wondering if God is listening, just have faith He/She is. Yes !

6. Be grateful to anyone who has ever loved you or tried to love you. I know I am. I try

7. Know that shit will happen in life. You think you will not be able to withstand, but you can and you will. Yep

8. Be kind to your body, it will be with you for life.

9. Believe me when I tell you: diets are a waste of time. I’ve tried them all.

10. Don’t believe people who tell you they can eat anything and still be so skinny! They are fibbing.

11. Moderate everything but laughing. Good sdvice

12. Don’t be scared to be a parent, trust your heart.

13. Make friends with your children’s friends. They’ll make you laugh and give you valuable intel. I did so

14.Keep a pair of clothes from high school. Not to check if you can still fit in them but for the memories they hold. 😄

15. Hold your children over and over again and then let someone hold you.

16. Get smart about money as early as possible. Learned at a very early age.

17. Save money from every paycheck. Yes

18.Buy comfortable sheets, you’ll spend a lot of time in them. 😄

19.Know that no matter how smart you are, you cannot change someone else. Ain't that the truth

20. Stay out of other people’s business. Dealing with your own is a full-time job. Yep, so so many in my life will never learn this concept.

21. Be kind, cause everyone is struggling. Always

22  Don’t engage in gossip, it always bites you in the ass.

23. Don’t mistake gifts for love.

24. Stay in connection with your childhood friends and introduce them to your grownup friends. Make yours a generous tribe that’s connected not only to you, but to each other. Indeed.

25. Spend time alone when you are young so it won’t scare you when you are older. I did

26  Write thank you notes to people for their time and their wisdom. See both as a gift. Yes, yes, I agree 100%

27. Look people in the eye when you talk to them. And at least once, look into someone’s eyes for five minutes straight. You will learn something.

28  Sit down to family dinner every night. If you can’t do it every night, make Sunday night family night. Did as a child & as an adult.

29. Play games with your kids (my favorites are Capture the Flag and Uno). Basketball games in driveway, jigsaw puzzles, Clue, ....

30. Give your kids a Get-Out-Of-School pass to use for a special day with you.

31. Keep an open table and an open mind. I try & tried

32.Be of service. Always volunteering

33. Travel with your kids. It will broaden their horizons and strengthen their bonds. Did so

34. Don’t assume anyone is better than you or you are better than anyone else. True

35. Don’t ever sit out of an election. You have the gift of living in a country where every vote matters. Use yours.  Yep

36  Learn how to turn off the critical voice in your head as early as possible. Criticism sucks

37. Every year write down your regrets then burn them and leave them where they belong: In the ashes. Excellent idea

38. Listen to your gut. It knows more than anyone else you are asking for advice. Yep

39. Practice prayer/meditation. It will keep you in check with yourself. 🙏🙏

40. Never think your work life is more important than your family. Never did

41. Don’t think bad stuff won’t happen to you. Learn how to push through. Head up, shoulders back. Good advice

42  Don’t allow anyone to shame you. True

43. Get good at forgiveness. You will need to practice it throughout life. Yes

44  Know that forgiving doesn’t mean going back to what was. It means going forward with love. You get to decide what that looks like. Yes

45. If you want forgiveness, ask for it. I do

46. Get good at letting go. Tough

47. Don’t expect people to be perfect. You are not…neither are they.

48. Learn how to communicate in your own home. If you can’t find your voice get help.

49. Don’t think that reaching out for help is a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength. Very wise

50. Therapy isn’t a waste of time. It can save a friendship, a marriage, your life. I agree 100%

51. If you marry and it comes to an end, don’t let anyone tell you you have failed. Be grateful for the love you had, the memories you made, the lessons you learned.

52. If you have a pity party, make it short and then move on.

53. Don’t see yourself as a victim, see yourself as brave.

54  Be brave enough to write your own story … and then rewrite it. I'm in process of doing so 

55. Be brave enough to try love after you heart has been broken.

56. Spend time in nature, it calms your mind. I'm a farm boy at heart. Love God's gifts

57. Spend time around people who see you, who celebrate you, who want the best for you. Friends

58. Stay connected to your siblings and don’t come between them and their partners. My four brothers are my past, my present and my future … and I like all of their wives. Again some don't adhere to the policy of staying out of it. Destroys families

59  Take care of your parents when they age, it’s a privilege. I tried

60. Have faith that your best days are ahead of you. That your next frontier will be your most fulfilling time. And that you deserve to be seen as good enough just the way you are. Faith, faith, faith. ❤️❤️❤️