REFLECTIONS ON TURNING 60....WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE

I turned 60 last week.  It wasn't quite as traumatic as I expected.  I feel the same as I did when I was 59.  But, 60 is a great age to reflect...some would even say that one that has reached 6 decades has the right to pontificate and speak with pompous authority.  So, since I did not do anything else significant to celebrate my milestone birthday, I am allowing myself the indulgence of writing (primarily for my grandson, Elie) these 21 Things I Know For Sure.

1.  Life will not always go the way you want it.  Deal with it!

2.  Stop trying to be perfect.  It will make you crazy and nobody even cares if you are perfect.

3.  If my dog doesn't like someone, I probably shouldn't either.

4.  You will regret the things you haven't done more than those you have.

5.  Do what you love....Love what you do....And be passionate about what you are doing!

6.  No one can change what has already happened.  Whatever is done is done and it is up to us whether we use the experience to learn.

7.  A home filled with music is a happy home.

8.  If you have an opinion or make a choice that is diametrically opposed to what most others think, the world will not end!  Be an independent thinker.

9.  True friends (ones that will go to the end of the earth for you and vice versa) are hard to come by and are quite few....so treasure them.  The rest are merely acquaintances.

10.  A good friend will bail you out of jail.  A great, true friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying, "Damn, that was fun!"

11.  There will never be peace until everybody recognizes everybody else as their equal.  Prejudice, racism, bias and hate are the root of all evil.

12.  Focusing on the positive always trumps dwelling on the negative.

13.  This too, will pass!

14.  If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will.

15.  You are only as happy as your most unhappy child.

16.  Blood IS thicker than water.  Never underestimate the Power of Family.

17.  Grandchildren are your reward for raising great children.

18.  Love DOES conquer all!

19.  It is okay to cry.  Whether it is tears of joy, pride, or even sadness, tears only show that we are human feeling beings.  Crying is NOT a show of weakness.

20.  We are responsible for our own life.  And nobody else is.  There are those that assist us along the path but our success can never be left to anyone else.

21.  Life is short.  We should DO IT NOW!

And The Journey continues..........