Learn from the mistakes of others. History repeats itself. Life is what we make it. These are just some of the most often-quoted statements about life and living. But we learn life through our own experience.
Here are some real lessons in life – as what I have experienced it and what others have shared. You may agree to some of them or you may not, but that’s life. We cannot please everyone.
Don’t trust the power of your brain all the time. Sometimes, the brain has no control over forgetfulness.
No matter how good your intentions are (like helping other people), there are always those who look at it the other way around. They may think you have hidden agenda. Don’t take too much of your time with those people who criticizes you; they will stop annoying you if you don’t pay attention to them.
Never estimate the power of one. It only takes one match to start a fire. Because of one vote, Adolph Hitler became the leader of Nazi Party in 1923. It was also because of one vote that led Charles I of England to be executed.
Just because you are young, you won’t go far. Alfred Lord Tennyson was only 18 when he wrote his first classic. Napoleon Bonaparte was 25 when he conquered Italy. Sir Isaac Newton made his greatest discoveries before he was 25. Jesus Christ reshaped the world at 30.
Do not despise the old folks either. Robert Frost wrote his famous poems when he turned 80. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a chief justice when he was 90. Architect Frank Lloyd did his best work at 86. Indestructible John Wesley was still preaching at 88.
Learn to appreciate what you have in life. Do not get jealous with what others have. “Don’t compare your life to others,” wrote newspaper columnist Regina Brett. “You have no idea what their journey is all about.”
There is no such thing as one-man army. Heroes oftentimes have sidekicks (think of Batman and Robin). Two heads are better than one. You can accomplish more in life if you have a companion. Adam was lonely without Eve.
Say thank you to those who have done something for you. In fact, say thank you even before you ask for something – from God, from your boss, or from someone.
Life is full of opportunities to celebrate, so don’t miss any of them: your birthday, passing of the board examination of your nephew or niece, your sister having a child, your father turning 65 years old, or getting a promotion of your job.
Practice dancing. There are times when happiness is appreciated and felt if you dance. Dance even if you are alone. Laurie Beth Jones, author of Jesus in Blue Jeans, once penned: “Sometimes we dance and sometimes we fall. And there is a net under us all.”
If you can’t dance at all, try singing. Sing out loud. And whether you are a fine singer or don’t have that good voice to attract attention, please don’t sing “My Way” in public videoke bars and pubs or you will end up dead. “And so I face the final curtain,” so goes one line of the song.
Many times when you feel farthest from the truth, you are very close to it. And when you think you are on top of the world, you can be sitting in a very dangerous place.
If you want to watch someone grow several inches in stature before your eyes, just praise her or him in public.
When the horse you are riding suddenly refuses to move, don’t kick it. Get off and look for the angel standing in the road. That horse might be saving your life.
Do not despise the little things. Your 99.99 can never be a hundred without 0.1. Sweat the small stuff. Little things mean a lot. And never believe in yourself too much. You are just one of the seven billion people living in this world today.
If you are a good leader and secured with what you are doing, train someone who will take your place. Florence Littauer, a best-selling author of thirteen books, trained others how to become successful authors themselves. “If you think I am proudest of my books, you are wrong,” she was quoted as saying. “I am most proud of the people I have helped to become writers themselves.”
When traveling, don’t carry bags for just anyone. If you can’t say no, be sure to open those that you have to carry for your own sake (there might be some illegal drugs inside and you will be in big trouble when you arrive in your final destination).
When you are a tourist in another country, there are three things you should always bring with you: passport (your identification), air ticket (except when it is an e-ticket and you memorize the code), and wallet (if you want to buy something). Never go out from your hotel without these three.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, someone told me. But how do you explain “out of sight, out of mind”?
There are always three solutions to a problem: the right solution, the wrong solution, and finding the middle ground. But more often than not, people choose the wrong solution for some unknown reasons.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Sir Winston Churchill suffered financial ruin more than once while his political career was seemingly aborted on several occasions. Perhaps it was Churchill’s numerous failures that led him to define success as “going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
If all fails, try love. After all, love conquers everything. “But the greatest of them all,” the Bible reminds, “is love.”
For comments, write me at henrytacio@gmail.com
Here are some real lessons in life – as what I have experienced it and what others have shared. You may agree to some of them or you may not, but that’s life. We cannot please everyone.
Don’t trust the power of your brain all the time. Sometimes, the brain has no control over forgetfulness.
No matter how good your intentions are (like helping other people), there are always those who look at it the other way around. They may think you have hidden agenda. Don’t take too much of your time with those people who criticizes you; they will stop annoying you if you don’t pay attention to them.
Never estimate the power of one. It only takes one match to start a fire. Because of one vote, Adolph Hitler became the leader of Nazi Party in 1923. It was also because of one vote that led Charles I of England to be executed.
Just because you are young, you won’t go far. Alfred Lord Tennyson was only 18 when he wrote his first classic. Napoleon Bonaparte was 25 when he conquered Italy. Sir Isaac Newton made his greatest discoveries before he was 25. Jesus Christ reshaped the world at 30.
Do not despise the old folks either. Robert Frost wrote his famous poems when he turned 80. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a chief justice when he was 90. Architect Frank Lloyd did his best work at 86. Indestructible John Wesley was still preaching at 88.
Learn to appreciate what you have in life. Do not get jealous with what others have. “Don’t compare your life to others,” wrote newspaper columnist Regina Brett. “You have no idea what their journey is all about.”
There is no such thing as one-man army. Heroes oftentimes have sidekicks (think of Batman and Robin). Two heads are better than one. You can accomplish more in life if you have a companion. Adam was lonely without Eve.
Say thank you to those who have done something for you. In fact, say thank you even before you ask for something – from God, from your boss, or from someone.
Life is full of opportunities to celebrate, so don’t miss any of them: your birthday, passing of the board examination of your nephew or niece, your sister having a child, your father turning 65 years old, or getting a promotion of your job.
Practice dancing. There are times when happiness is appreciated and felt if you dance. Dance even if you are alone. Laurie Beth Jones, author of Jesus in Blue Jeans, once penned: “Sometimes we dance and sometimes we fall. And there is a net under us all.”
If you can’t dance at all, try singing. Sing out loud. And whether you are a fine singer or don’t have that good voice to attract attention, please don’t sing “My Way” in public videoke bars and pubs or you will end up dead. “And so I face the final curtain,” so goes one line of the song.
Many times when you feel farthest from the truth, you are very close to it. And when you think you are on top of the world, you can be sitting in a very dangerous place.
If you want to watch someone grow several inches in stature before your eyes, just praise her or him in public.
When the horse you are riding suddenly refuses to move, don’t kick it. Get off and look for the angel standing in the road. That horse might be saving your life.
Do not despise the little things. Your 99.99 can never be a hundred without 0.1. Sweat the small stuff. Little things mean a lot. And never believe in yourself too much. You are just one of the seven billion people living in this world today.
If you are a good leader and secured with what you are doing, train someone who will take your place. Florence Littauer, a best-selling author of thirteen books, trained others how to become successful authors themselves. “If you think I am proudest of my books, you are wrong,” she was quoted as saying. “I am most proud of the people I have helped to become writers themselves.”
When traveling, don’t carry bags for just anyone. If you can’t say no, be sure to open those that you have to carry for your own sake (there might be some illegal drugs inside and you will be in big trouble when you arrive in your final destination).
When you are a tourist in another country, there are three things you should always bring with you: passport (your identification), air ticket (except when it is an e-ticket and you memorize the code), and wallet (if you want to buy something). Never go out from your hotel without these three.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, someone told me. But how do you explain “out of sight, out of mind”?
There are always three solutions to a problem: the right solution, the wrong solution, and finding the middle ground. But more often than not, people choose the wrong solution for some unknown reasons.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Sir Winston Churchill suffered financial ruin more than once while his political career was seemingly aborted on several occasions. Perhaps it was Churchill’s numerous failures that led him to define success as “going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
If all fails, try love. After all, love conquers everything. “But the greatest of them all,” the Bible reminds, “is love.”
For comments, write me at henrytacio@gmail.com
