The following is one of those chain emails that you're supposed to pass on to "x" number of people. I share it today since it does have some good thoughts to it. As far as I have been able to tell it has been attributed to the late George Carlin. No matter who or what the source, enjoy and take heed.
The “ending” is a wonderful reminder of how to live life!!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips.. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where there is guilt.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER : Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breath away.
We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!
Worry about nothing, pray about everything!!!
I hope you are having a Happy Holiday Season!
I really like the idea of number 7, it is really true.
ReplyDeleteAs a consistent reader of my blog you're probably aware I suffer from what can be a seriously crippling depression so this post is extremely useful for me, to the extent I've actually bookmarked this post into my folder for when I suffer from depressive phases. This is sound advice Lee, thanks so much for it buddy.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee .. what a relevant post for us all .. Counting our Blessings is something we forget to do ..
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted it .. many thanks .. here's to a great 2012 .. cheers Hilary
This was just wonderful Lee, some thought provoking words .
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I love these, especially number 1, throwing out inconsequential numbers. Just the right idea for me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Those are some wise words! I've always believed home is a refuge.
ReplyDeleteI just threw my useless non-winning lottery numbers in the trash. :) Happy Holidays Lee!
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
My friend Rachel over at Word Stream sent me over. So glad she did. Words of wisdom indeed!
ReplyDeleteI like No.4!
ReplyDeleteIn 2012 I intend to go back to the simpler things in life - which will include being 'unplugged' at times.
I'm hoping for time to just sit and watch nature in all it's glory (and if sunny days allow, there will be much book reading in my deckchair!)
Re-discovering the satisfaction of making things (and cooking) from scratch - even learning new skills!
Inspired by my daughter, who ventured into the world of soap-making and herbal remedies.....
Life is just too fast-paced these days - maybe it's time to slow down and enjoy the journey?!
Now those are some useful tips for everyone. I especially like the the one about not taking guilt trips. Wishing you a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLove your advice. #7 is my fav.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
That's a good list! #10 is my fave! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading all of them my friend! That will surely make me live happier, well I have to stay with the friends that will just make up my day :)
ReplyDeleteFYI, that's not Carlin. I was skeptical about the suggestios to do crafts (!) and avoid grouchiness (Carlin?), but mostly by the absence of irony or humor. Brief checking of Snopes says it ain't Carlin. Some nice advice, but more likely written by someone's sweet grandma.
ReplyDeleteSnopes: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/aging.asp
"the only person with us our entire lives is ourselves" so true... learn to like yourself.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the new visitors-- Hope you'll return. I'm still visiting and traveling and having a nice time, but I do miss my home where my stuff is. However, it's nice to be in the other homes of my family.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for your comments.
Lee
Two is tough because there are a lot of grouchy people in this world -- and I don't want to throw them away!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, dear Lee! (Well, we're nearly there ...)
I usually avoid those kind of emails, but that's my "jaded" coming out. Thanks for this post. I needed to hear it. I'm having a period of upheaval, and I want my life to change. Of course, the key to changing your life is changing yourself. What better way than to throw out the insignificant and the negative and welcome the positive?
ReplyDeleteYour list should include, "Eat lots of bacon!" It definitely makes me happy =)
ReplyDeleteGlad you passed this along. It's amazing how much negative people can pull you down.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Very nice advice.
ReplyDeleteDue to background, upbringing, etc. it took some of us longer than others to get these ideas integrated into our lives. So good to keep passing them on. :)
Lee - this was great! Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI have copied it (if you don't mind), pasted it in an email and fired it off to my daughter! I couldn't have said it better.
I'm a #5 gal - always laughing (where possible) - besides I think a happy face always looks younger! (Since plastic surgery isn't an option I figure I'll just laugh away the years!)
Cheers, Jenny
PEARSON REPORT
A superb list, Lee! I don't have any favorites. They're all excellent. And I love the final imperative: Worry about nothing, pray about everything.
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
This email languished in my mailbox most of the year and when I discovered it I just had to copy it to my site. Feel free to pass it on since it's not original to me and has been making the email circuit for many year.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, bacon is definitely tasty.
Lee
Great advice! I love #5 and #9.
ReplyDeleteWonderful advice Lee - a great way to start the New Year!
ReplyDeleteI tend to ignore chain emails too. This one is a sign that I shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. A lovely list.
ReplyDeleteTruer words do not exist.
ReplyDeleteyeah its kind true,great post make think
ReplyDeleteA really great post for reflecting on the start of a new year!
ReplyDelete2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of horse shit!
Sunny dispositions make me puke, and I'm on the verge of deleting your blog from those I "Follow"!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Hi Arlee,nice to meet you. I've been here before but for whatever crazy reason was unable to follow.
ReplyDeleteToday I really needed to see this post again. Guess that's why I'm here. Thanks.
I'll be back.
Thanks to all for stopping and I'm pleased if these words lifted you up in some way.
ReplyDeleteBut really, Stephen T McCarthy, are you accusing me of being cheerful and optimistic? I didn't write this--I just copied it from an email. The dark underbelly of this blog is still here for curmudgeons like you--we are like blog brothers.
Oh, and StMc--Have a crappy New Year!
Lee
Oh, and StMc--Have a crappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAhh, that's more like it!
Surely you saw the ironic humor in my comment? The grouch is pissed and threatening to have nothing to do with you because you may be buying into the concept that grouches should be avoided.
I fear (correction: I KNOW!) that sometimes people take me the wrong way, not being in sync with my brand of humor.
Now to be serious for just a moment:
"But really, Stephen T McCarthy, are you accusing me of being cheerful and optimistic?"
YES! Yes, I am. You don't really think you even remotely approach my degree of "curmudgeonlyness", do you?
By and large, I do view you as a "the cup is half full / find the silver lining / it could be worse" type of person. (Do you think it's mere coincidence that you are surrounded by so many "Happy Club" people in the Blogosphere?)
Not that there's anything wrong with that! But anyone who could appreciate that list of "Happy Club" suggestions you posted here is definitely not operating on the same wavelength I am. (Lucky them!)
As a matter of fact, I often wonder why you continue to interact with the likes of me, and I sometimes suspect that if we didn't have a few years of personal history already in the books, you'd perhaps delete MY blogs.
If you discovered me and my blogs today, for the very first time, do you really think you'd sign up to "Follow" them? I dunno, Bro, I dunno.
You know, you're a "Friends Of Ob-la-di Ob-la-da" kinda guy, while I am a "This Is The End Zealot" kinda guy. Two very different types for sure.
Nevertheless, may your idealistic optimism and my realistic pessimism meet and enjoy each other's company for yet another year of friendship!
While I'm enjoying my crappy New year, you have a Sunny one, Boidman!
[;-)
Love ya (JW!), Brotherman.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I think I got number 5 down good. And number 7 I agree with fully. Agree with them all, but those two relate more to my hall.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee,
ReplyDeleteThis is really a perfect list of New Year's Resolutions, if you think about it. Thanks so much for posting it, and I hope that you guys have a great year at your house.
God bless!
Kathy M.
P.S. - If you can, please watch the Army All-American game on Sat. Jan. 7th ... our grandson, Tyler Matthews, is a QB on the West team...and we are going to be there to watch!
Fantastic thoughts and sentiments. I love it.
ReplyDeleteLove all the tips, especially number 10...:) Hope you had a great Christmas... Happy New Year...
ReplyDeleteI whole-heartedly support "Enjoy the simple things."
ReplyDeleteWonderful advice Lee! Blessings to you and yours in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteA couple of months ago, I heard that they surveyed a group of centarian to find out the secret to living so long. They all said to embrace technology and to pay attention to what their kids (and grand-kids and great-grand-kids) were into.
ReplyDeleteLife is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breath away. This line gave me shivers. Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete