Just a few simple truths we learn on the road of life…
- The route to our destination is never a straight one. – We take questionable turns and we get lost. But it doesn’t always matter which road we embark on; what matters is that we embark. Either way life will likely get a little complicated, and bring unexpected hurdles and changes. But that’s okay. Sometimes you have to stumble and feel weak for a little while to realize how strong you really are. Read Tuesdays with Morrie.
- Real friends won’t ask you to change who you are. – The RIGHT people for you will love all the things about you that the WRONG people are intimidated by. Don’t change so people will like you. Be patient, keep being your awesome self, and pretty soon the RIGHT people will love the REAL you.
- Cheating is a choice, not a mistake, and not an excuse. – If you decide to cheat, and you succeed in cheating someone out of something, don’t think that this person is a fool. Realize that this person trusted you much more than you ever deserved, and they learned a lesson about who you really are.
- The past can’t hurt you anymore – not unless you let it. – Forgive and move on! Forgiveness allows you to focus on the future without combating the past. Without forgiveness, wounds can never be healed, and moving on can never be accomplished. What happened in the past is just one chapter. Don’t close the book, just turn the page. Cry when you must and push forward. Let your tears water the seeds of your future growth and happiness.
- Adversity will come to every person at some point. – How you meet it, what you make of it, and what you allow it to take from you and give to you is determined by your mental habits and personal choices. In short, you can’t change the cards you were dealt, just how you play the hand. Read The Last Lecture.
- Sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall together. – When things fall apart, consider the possibility that life knocked it down on purpose. Not to bully you, or to punish you, but to prompt you to build something that better suits your personality and your purpose.
- Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right. – Keep an open mind. The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know. We all have our own unique path and feelings. When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.
- Everything has been just the way it needed to be. – In life, we do lots of things. Some we wish we could take back. Some we wish we could relive a thousand times. All of these things, positive and negative, have taught us important lessons and have collectively made us into the person we are today. If we were to reverse or adjust any of them, we wouldn’t be who we are; we would be somebody else. So just live, make mistakes, make memories, and take chances. Never second guess who you are or where you’ve been.
- Silence is often the loudest cry. – There’s always some truth behind ‘just kidding,’ knowledge behind ‘I don’t know,’ emotion behind ‘I don’t care,’ and pain behind: ‘It’s okay.’ So pay close attention to how people feel, especially those you care for most. And remember, silence is often the loudest cry. Sometimes what a person needs most is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
- The difference between where you are and where you want to be, is what you do. – What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. Don’t wait until everything is just right; it will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. But with each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more skilled, more confident, and more successful. So start doing what you need to do today. Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all. We usually can’t become who we want to be by continuing to do what we’ve been doing. Read The Power of Habit.
- It’s not who you are that holds you back, it who you think you’re not. – Judging yourself is not the same as being honest with yourself. Don’t sell yourself short! You are capable of great things. And don’t ever let someone else make you feel like you’re not good enough. If they can’t see how amazing you are, then they’re the one who’s not good enough for you. Their approval is not needed.
- Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. – Smile through the hard times, even though it doesn’t always seem to get any better. A smile is the first step to fixing things. The trick is to enjoy life by noticing what’s right. Don’t wish away your days waiting for better times ahead. Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Don’t miss it.
Photo by: Angela Sevin
Diana says
You know, I really SHOULD know all of this BY NOW! Great points! Thanks for the reminder. ?
bran says
Great read as usual. Simple and effective advice. Thanks you two.
Misty says
I love bullet #1. Sometimes the most interesting and memorable things happen when you *do* get lost. 🙂
Kenny says
Thanks for the post. Wise words — and always at the right time.
Sonia says
Loved it!!! Especially # 8 – we should accept ourselves the way we are…
hina says
I continue to love your writings. Thanks.
Kea says
I found your blog a couple of months ago, can’t even think how, and I just would like to say that it’s absolutely fabulous, as I’m sure you’ve been told many, many times. There’s always something that resonates with me, so many things of which I need reminding, even at my age.
*Thank you*.
Universal Peace and Blessings.
Maria says
Thank you for publishing this article. Very helpful and usefull as always.
jared says
Great list. A few buzz words come to mind…
open-mindedness, willingness, forgiveness, acceptance, humility, responsibility
Adebayo DAHUNSI says
You know, I love all your write ups . They make me to feel alive and normal again, as I thought I was mad and not normal in my thinking and approach towards life for some time. Then, after reading most of your site over the last few months, I had no doubt in my mind that I was on the right course. More ink to your pens!
MelB says
Thanks so much for the work that you do. Everytime I see your emails in my inbox I am thrilled. It reminds me that life is not forever and we have to be thankful for everything!
Cheryl Lyons says
Perfect! I can’t get enough of this site! Thank you!
Ieva says
Your blog posts always make me smile and appreciate life in a new way. Especially when I am down, after reading one of your posts, I feel like I was reborn with enthusiasm.
Thank you so much for being an inspiration.
Deb says
Wow, you’re making me think again. I appreciate the time you put into your blog each week. Your articles always have a way of motivating me.
Frank Martin | Modern Monkey Mind says
Love it as always! I think #7 is something we all struggle with more often than we might want to admit, and not just in politics and religion, though that is where it seems to rear its ugly head the most prominently.
Janet says
Thank you for a good list of things to think about today. I recommend your blog to everyone I know!
[email protected] says
Thanks again for the reminders. We can all use them. I would add like the song goes, “What does’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Life does throw many things at us, but it makes us into who we are meant to be. Keep the attitude positive and look for the opportunities around every corner.
Debbie
levU says
I just love you two! Everytime I read your words I feel good about myself, better about my past and hopeful for my future.
Jo-Anne says
Love this list; so many great things on it to think about. Thank you for writing and posting.
Tina says
#11 – thanks, I needed to be reminded of that today!
Ali Davies says
Love point 5 about adversity. The motto I like to use about dealing with adversity and setbacks is “Learn the lesson. Apply the learning. Move on.”
Mponeng says
Your blogs always revive my mood. Keep on doing the good work, I am really inspired. Thank you
Ravi says
Hi Marc and Angel,
I was sure missing something remarkably worthwhile until I stumbled upon the two of you. I’m convinced that your work has the fabulous capacity to transform people’s lives. Thank you and Bon Voyage!
Sincerely,
Ravi Bhushan
Marc says
As always, thank you, all of you. You’re positive comments just made our day, yet again.
I hope you all are having a productive, enjoyable week. Don’t forget to pause from time to time this week to enjoy some of life’s simple pleasures: http://whatmoneycannotbuy.com/ 🙂
Nikky44 says
WONDERFUL!!!
How do I share this on Facebook?
Xeron Herrarra says
Loved this! Thanks for the post.
Dawn says
Needed to hear number eight especially today. Thank you.
Planet Love says
You guys are great. I look forward to reading your blog every week. Thanks for the work you do!
charles stone says
Loved number 6 and 9 and well… all of them. — great post!
Jerrywhyte Obamwonyi says
great one again marc and angel, i always make your email a priority in my inbox
Natesa says
I love u guys, u r so awesome!!
Wish u wer my friends in real life…
Thank u both 🙂
Jay says
Thanks… Very Good article. I really liked the way you pointed out the things that truly matter.
KatW says
I am experiencing numbers 5&6 right now and praying for others who have indicated that they are too, but I am so thankful for this site. What an oasis of hope. Thank you for reminding us that “this too shall pass,” and to try to be thankful for the time we have.
Ava says
regarding number 3….yes, cheating is a choice, and in my life it has been the biggest lesson I’ve had… I cheated and boy did I learn from it…still am. i learned how badly I can hurt someone. I learned how badly I can hurt myself with a bad choice. I learned how much I can disappoint my family and friends and myself. I’ve learned how to forgive myself for making a really bad decision. I’ve since been in a relationship where my partner told me he has never trusted anyone the way he trusts me. it was due to a lot of hard work on my part rebuilding myself and choosing a different path. once a cheater, not always a cheater. like any other bad choice in life, this one can be changed and learned from.
gina wright says
I always enjoy your insights and this is no exception! A great compilation of truths! I think number two needs some type of a disclaimer or something though. Sometimes there are qualities about ourselves that could really use some change and improvement. Who but our truest friends can we trust to bring those things to our attention? I think that it’s almost an epidemic of self indulgence these days and the excuse ” That’s just how I am, ( was born, was raised etc..choose your ending) if you don’t like it you can leave.” Is a very sad excuse for some people to glibly continue being asinine rude jerks. So yes, sometime true friends will ask you to change, and sometimes you should listen.
AnneV says
All of these points are so so true. Thanks!