As promised, here are the last of the 30 things on my mother's list, hidden away in her personal things. (See the last two posts for a better explanation.) These are some of the best ones:
21) STOP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITHOUT TAKING A BREAK. - The time to take a deep breath is when you don't have time for it. If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22) STOP OVERLOOKING THE BEAUTY OF SMALL MOMENTS. - Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23) STOP TRYING TO MAKE THINGS PERFECT. - The real world doesn't reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.
24) STOP FOLLOWING THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. - Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don't take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25) STOP ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING IS FINE WHEN IT ISN'T. - It's OK to fall apart for a little while. You don't always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn't be concerned with what other people are thinking either -- cry if you need to -- it's healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26) STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR TROUBLES. - The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you're going through, you deny responsibility -- you give others power over that part of your life.
27) STOP TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE. - Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world, and yours. So narrow your focus.
28) STOP WORRYING SO MUCH. - Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: "Will this matter in one year's time? Three years? Five years?" If not, then it's not worth worrying about now.
29) STOP FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN. - Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and if you pay close enough attention, you'll often find you're right.
30) STOP BEING UNGRATEFUL. - No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you're missing, try thinking about you have that someone else might be missing, and be grateful for it.
I think Mother would be happy that I have shared her list. As I said at the beginning, I don't know who gave it to her, who wrote it, maybe she did but I doubt it. They see more like things she aspired to herself. Some items on the list seem like they are meant for me, personally. I can't imagine that they were, but I'm glad I found the list. It's special and it means something to me. I hope anyone reading it feels the same way.
Life is so short. It goes by in a flash. I have fond memories of certain things that seem just yesterday. It floors me when I realize decades have passed since that memory happened. We need to find ways to linger in the moment. That has been especially true this last year when our world's have all shrunk to our homes, gardens and immediate surroundings.
Love your life. Enjoy the days and nights. Get your vaccine as soon as you can. I can't wait to see you!
Onward....
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