Things I think I’ve learned about life - in no particular order. Some I have experienced, others I have observed. Some of these points might be contentious, obvious, abstract, right on, way off. There might even be - dare I say it - spelling mistakes and syntax errors! And I might even add to this list in due course. I suppose I just wanted to share some of the things I think I’ve learned. Do I live by these edicts? Ha!!

1) Without love, trust is just another unwritten contract.

2) Write and act fearlessly. At the same time be clear about what you mean or what you want.

3) Plan your changes and stick to the plan to make it work. This will give you a sense of achievement and the courage to proceed to the next planned change.

4) Live only your own dream - never someone else’s

5) Parents often wish you to live out their unrealised dreams and couch it in terms of love. Don’t be fooled - follow your passion and have the courage of your convictions to say so - it’ll pay dividends in the long run, even with your parents.  Resist peer pressure. If it’s right for you, peer pressure won’t be necessary.

6) Uncondtional love requires that you might just have to set the other person free.

7) A good cake requires a well prepared and substantial mix followed by the right baking conditions and a period of cooling long before the icing goes on top. Lack of necessary preparation may mean that you don’t notice the cake crumble underneath a lavishly prepared sugar coating until it suddenly collapses.Half-preparation leads to failure. Image is the last thing you should be concerned about.

8) Never lie to yourself. There’s no device quite as effective as self-lies to make you transparent.

9) Future is just an illusion. Act now.

10) Compromise yourself ONLY for the sake of your children if absolutely necessary.

11) Health comes before family. Without health, you can’t effectively look after your family.

12) Be as prepared as you can be. This way, you’ll be able to do only your best.

13) You can only do what you can do. Never beat yourself up about things you can’t do.

14) Be brave enough to fail. Tjose who are not can never be leaders, only followers.

15) If you feel you’re doing something you’ll regret, stop doing it immediately.

16) Always look for the good in a person or situation. Never focus on the negative. Remember the good, have as many good memories as you can. That way, the older you get, the more worthwhile and satisfying life will appear to have been.

17) The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

18) Life is good - live it now!

19) Curses do work. It’s not always your fault - others might have it in for you. The only way to beat them is to love them. They have no defence against love - haters hate to be loved.

20) Meditate and get all the rest you need.

21) Don’t let other people make their problems out to be yours.

22) Love never demands. Selfish want demands. God gives you what you need. You have what you need. God doesn’t give you what you want. You have to take it. Take it with love. Loving unconditionally can be the easiest or the hardest thing to do. Let it come and let it go.

23) You made me miserable only because I stood there and took it from you.. Therefore, if anyone made me miserable, it was me.

24) Always listen to the little voice inside your head. Trust your feeling or intuition before you trust your intellect or someone else’s opinion.

25) If you come to a crossroad on life’s journey and don’t know which way to go, don’t take too long over picking one. If you don’t, you won’t be going anywhere! And, what’s more, the older you get, the fewer crossroad you’ll see.

26) Be specific. Know what you want in detail. Otherwise, you might just get a whole pile of this you didn’t want along with the one thing you did want.

27)  Step out a bit. If you indulge in the same thing too often, it’s probably a “security blanket”

28) If you practice doing the right things, you’ll get good at the right things. The reverse is  also all too real. If you continue to do something against your intuition, you may master what you you’re doing, but you’ll never be happy doing it. Sometimes we excell at doing things we just don’t like.

30) The mind is like a timid beast - nuture it and encourage it to go free. The mouth is like a wild animal. Keep guard on it until you can tame it. Blessed is he whose mid controls his mouth effectively. Openness is a very powerful emotional tool to getting what we want. from others.only if you are in complete control of it. Without completre control, it can be seen by others as foolishness.Keep control of your thoughts and your words to avoid foolish deeds.

31) Truth is not always “freeing” or “gratifying”. It is often dirty, unsettling, horrifying, hurtful and necessary.To be yourself, you have to dare to embrace the truth. The truth cannot be avoided for ever, so be true to yourself NOW.

32)  Things that taste or feel good are always good for you. Moderation is the key to keeping it that way. The exception often proves the rule and the exception in this case is the sociopath.

33) The assumption that your children owe you something because you raised them is false. You brought them into this world. You owe them everything.

34) The last song you ever wrote should be your best song.

35) A disorganised and untidy place usually denotes an unorganised or untidy person. Clinically clean and showpiece in appearance usually means “my way or the highway”.

36) Prolonged periods of loneliness can lead to insanity. And you can be in a roomful of people every day and still be lonely.

37) Action may lead to failure. Wishful thinking will always lead to failure.

38) People often succeed by thier limitations as much as by their abilities. Don’t let what you can’t do stop you.

39) Find something good to focus on when you awake. Carry this thought or image throiugh the day with you.

40) An advanced understanding of anything first requires a deep understanding of the fundamentals. So why don’t fundamentalists understand this? Fundamentalists of any kind are to be avoided.