CONCLUSIONS: PART 10
“These lessons life has taught me”
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I recently turned 30, and I more recently turned 35. In these years I have lived, I have learned a number of lessons. I am not certain I could remember each lesson off the top of my head, but I want to always remember things life has taught me at the moments they matter most. Perhaps this post does not need to be long. I will try to narrow it to a list and less of a diatribe. I think people are already tired of reading these things. That being said, here are 35 of the lessons life has taught me in 35 years (in no particular order):
1. Weigh all of your words (spoken or typed). Our flippant words in conversation and online are not as harmless as we think they are.
2. It really is not about you. It never has been and never will be. You are not the center of the universe.
3. Write it down so you don’t forget it.
4. Your dream requires dedicated time and effort.
5. Schedule yourself if you really want freedom.
6. Breathing helps when you are stressed out.
7. Do not depend on your gifts more than you depend on the One who gave you those gifts.
8. Hurt people hurt people.
9. Pray as you can; do not pray as you can’t.
10. The valley isn’t the hard part; it’s the climb. When it is difficult, realize you must be climbing.
11. Worry reveals how little I trust God.
12. Connecting with the heart of God every day is more important than doing any discipline every day [but the disciplines are helpful in doing that].
13. Quality coffee is worth being a snob.
14. Conflict is not good or bad. How you handle it is either good or bad.
15. Love drives us to act. Acts do not earn love.
16. Passion means “to be affected by”. Determine what you will allow yourself to be affected by.
17. Art is NEVER done.
18. The biggest stumbling block to prayer is starting.
19. Don’t give a homeless person money; buy them what they NEED.
20. The grass is greener on the other side because they take care of their grass.
21. You are far more selfish than really recognize.
22. Never be afraid to doubt your doubts.
23. If you value the poor, it truly will change your life.
24. Surround yourself with people who draw things out of you that you don’t see in yourself.
25. Listen to as much music as you can take in.
26. Quick to listen; slow to speak…always.
27. Tears are telescopes to heaven.
28. People who don’t know you personally do not get to say personal things about you.
29. Always have a good list for your current reading list.
30. “It is the mark of an educated man to entertain a thought without accepting it.” (Aristotle)
31. Have more questions than statements.
32. Don’t be surprised by what happens when you know that you reap what you sow.
33. Media is not to be trusted.
34. Friends who know and support you are priceless, and you have to be one to get one.
35. Finish what you start.
