Saturday, November 16, 2013

HEY SIXTEEN, LISTEN UP !!!

SIXTEEN THINGS I NEEDED TO KNOW AT SIXTEEN. (Hindsight is a wonderful teacher!)

1.  WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??? (This is an actual question my dear mother would scream at me often!). Actually though, it's a good question. Don't grow up so fast; don't be in such a hurry to discard a phase of your life for the next before YOU are ready. Relax, enjoy the journey.  Life is a learning process. 

2.  "WHAT'S THE RUSH???" (Another actual question from my mother). GET COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN! Enjoy your school years! Join the various clubs! Live fully in the moment. 

3.  "DON'T BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON SAND!" A solid foundation in life takes time to assemble. There's no shortcut, no easy road to success.  Fully enjoy each home you'll set up; each stage of life. 

4.  "SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY!"  Buy the very best you can and make it last. Quality items and classic style endure. 

5.  "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?" Happy, is a good goal. Jobs are changeable and you'll find opportunities as you grow. Work diligently, be reliable and congenial. Airline pilots are glorified bus drivers ... every job becomes mundane if you let it. Always do your best and good opportunities will come of it. 

6.  AVOID EXTREMES ... Everything in moderation. 

7.  DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR VALUES to fit into a group.  Move on; find your own voice.  "Friends" who seem important now will probably go their own way when school ends. Your family will always be there for you. 

8.  WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND. Always do the right thing and karma will be your friend. 

9.  DON'T JUMP FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE! (A favorite saying of my dad's!!) Hmm, maybe I heard it often because hot frying pans were my stepping stones in life. LOL. When things go awry, as they tend to in life, see them through to the end. Don't trade one problem for another. Hang in there! 

10.  "YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL." This will apply to the ne'er-do-wells that cross your path as well as mother nature's rejects. Empathy is a good trait but don't saddle yourself with non-winnable tasks. 

11.  "IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!" But, it may be the end of a chapter; the end of a phase. Pick up the pieces and move on with as much kindness and dignity as you can muster. 

12.  "DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGES." Be fair. You will encounter difficult situations, job losses, broken relationships and the like. Although it may feel good in the moment,  to "burn it", be honest, be fair; you're part of the problem, too. 

13.  WEAR SHOES THAT FIT PROPERLY. This will save you back and foot pain later in life. Wear the correct shoe for the sport. 

14.  NEVER STOP LEARNING. Take educational courses on things you find interesting. 

15.  HOBBIES ARE IMPORTANT. Take a lesson now; painting, writing, decorating, music; discover your talents. 

16.  RELAX. It's not the end of the world. Things that seem impossible and insurmountable at 16, become ridiculously simple later in life. Don't sweat the small stuff. 










No comments:

Post a Comment