Lessons From A Writer-Humorist

They're written by Andy Rooney , a man who has the gift of saying so
much with so few words. Enjoy.......

I've learned....
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly
person.

I've learned....
That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned....
That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most
peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....
That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to
help him in some other way.

I've learned....
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone
needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to
understand.

I've learned....
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights
when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the
end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.....
That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned....
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be
appreciated and loved.

I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting
that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround
myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned...
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.....
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time
before she passed away..

I've learned.....
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because
tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.....
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his
little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the
happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned....
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

21 Things to Remember....

Here are 21 things to remember.... ...


1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.

2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.

3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.

4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

5. Success stops when you do.

6. When your ship comes in... Make sure you are willing to unload it.

7. You will never "have it all together."

8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be Happy."

10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

11. I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.

12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.

13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.

14. We often fear the thing we want the most.

15. He or she who laughs...... lasts.

16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.

17. Look for opportunities... not guarantees.

18. Life is what's coming....not what was.

19. Success is getting up one more time.

20. Now is the most interesting time of all.

21. When things go wrong.....don't go with them.

Dealing with Aging

5 Essential Strategies to Combat Aging
By: Gary Small

Most of us protest against the idea of aging in the way our parents did and vow to fight the process as long as possible. We are looking for a safe, convenient, medically sound way to live longer, empower ourselves, and remain healthy and fulfilled throughout that long life — what I refer to as "quality longevity."

To achieve quality longevity, we have more control than we think. Genetics accounts for only one-third of what determines our health as we age. That means that simple everyday lifestyle choices have a major impact on how well and how long we live.

Empowering ourselves for the future requires learning new skills as well as honing the ones we already have. Try some of these strategies to live longer and feel and look younger.

Strategy 1: Sharpen your mind
With a sharp mind, we're more inclined to stay fit, have good relationships, eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. Doing mental aerobics can improve memory and lower your risk for Alzheimer's disease. A recent UCLA study found that when we keep our minds active, brain efficiency increases dramatically, even after just a few weeks.
Consider these tips to sharpen your mind:

• Try different approaches to expanding your mental horizons, whether it's traveling to new destinations, learning a musical instrument, taking up ballroom dancing or going back to school.

• Learn and use the three basic memory techniques:
o Look — focus attention on what you want to remember
o Snap — imagine a mental snapshot of the information
o Connect — link the snapshots together in your mind's eye

• Stay mentally active through puzzles, games, reading and other stimulating hobbies, but be sure to train and not strain your brain — find the level of challenge that keeps you interested without frustrating or exhausting you.

Strategy 2: Cultivate healthy relationships

Socially connected people have longer life expectancies than isolated individuals. Cultivate intimacy with your partner since good sex makes for a longer life. Not only does it bring people closer together, it lowers blood pressure, reduces pain, promotes restful sleep and boosts the immune system so we are better able to fight off infections.

Empathy — our ability to understand another person's emotional viewpoint and to express that understanding — is the social glue that keeps us together. Although not everyone is an empathy expert, we can improve our skills through simple exercises that teach us to express our empathic responses.
Try this attentive listening exercise: Ask your mate or friend to talk about a feeling or issue important to him and just listen without interrupting or interpreting. Maintain eye contact and stay focused. After five minutes, talk to each other about how it felt.

Strategy 3: Reduce stress

We can't completely eliminate stress from our lives, but we can learn healthier responses to it. Here are some steps we all can take to minimize stress to live longer and better.

• Control clutter in your home and in your life. Sometimes we have people cluttering our lives that we need to cut loose so we have more time for those we really care about.

• Get more realistic about how much you take on each day. Try eliminating just a few items from your to-do list.

• Watch for multitasking. Slow down and take one thing at a time.

• Learn to meditate. Regular meditation not only reduces stress but boosts the immune system and promotes healing of various medical conditions, from arthritis to chronic pain.

• Empower yourself with the word no. When we don't say no enough, we take on too many responsibilities and feel anxious, resentful and trapped. When you say no to a request, you are saying yes to something else that is more important to you.

Strategy 4: Think positive

Optimists have a greater life expectancy than pessimists.

• Make an effort to see the cup half full. Recent studies show that we can learn optimism when we set our minds to it.

• Discover your spiritual life. Attending a house of worship once a week is associated with a seven-year-longer survival compared with never attending.

• Take care of your needs. Satisfied people are twice as likely to survive compared with dissatisfied individuals.

Strategy 5: Manage your environment

Our environment has a big influence on how we feel and how long we live. Whether it's traffic, noise, smog or other aspects of the environment at large, or more personal environmental issues such as aesthetics or bedroom temperature, our quality longevity requires that we not only adapt to these influences but learn to shape them to meet our individual tastes and needs. Consider the following personal solutions for environmental issues.

• Bear in mind function and aesthetics when designing your home and work space. Control clutter and noise and arrange the bedroom in a way that enhances sleep and restfulness.

• Minimize your exposure to sun, smoke, mold, smog and other airborne toxins.

• Stay safe on the road — let someone else drive if you can't handle it.

• Make your workplace safe and comfortable: Consider ergonomic designs for comfort and safety.

• Manage your technology to avoid information overload.

Source: iVillage Total Health

DON'T QUIT...

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you've trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow-
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the nights came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

*Author Unknown