The hardest battle one has to fight is to live in a world where every single day someone is trying to make you be a person you do not want to be. When I reflect on my eighty-year journey a large part of my life was determined by other people’s expectations, opinions, and validation. If I had to do it all over I would be far more mindful of controlling my own destiny and taking back my life.
At this current stage in my evolution, I consciously focus every day on taking my life back. You either control your life, or someone exterior of you controls your life. Being the best you can be, starts with taking your life back. When you take your life back, you are the “scorekeeper” of your journey. You begin to manage your time, energy and environment more earnestly and wisely becoming the artist of your canvas, the CEO of your life and the author of your story.
There is no concrete finish line in taking your life back. The process is not simply a destination, but a transformative journey. When you take your life back it is no longer about winning and losing, right and wrong, yes and no. It becomes about self-control, surrendering and committing to the awakened pursuit towards creating a life of
personal freedom, intent, growth, truth, harmony, self-love, discovery, acceptance, and purpose.
May the following twenty-five life lessons I wish I would have known years earlier allow you to deconstruct your current ecosystem, in order to rebuild a healthier and more vibrant physical, mental, emotional and spiritual world to live and prosper in!
1. Time is far more valuable than money. The pursuit of material items and money, rank below the pursuit of knowledge.
2. The most important conversation is the one you have with yourself.
3. Next to air, food, water, shelter, vision, and breathing, books would be my biggest necessity and my most valuable friends and contributors.
4. Television is one of human being’s biggest distractions.
5. People do not always need advice. Sometimes all they really need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen and a heart to understand them.
6. Precious time is wasted and mind space is unproductively occupied when you allow other people to govern who you are.
7. I would have at least 40 more years to live and no personal growth strategy.
8. You do not have to eat everything that is placed on your plate.
9. Live Simply. Dream Big. Be Grateful. Give Love. Laugh Lots.
10. You will acquire many more false friends then true enemies.
11. Thinking is the most important human skill.
12. Most boundaries placed on our lives are artificial. Challenge each and everyone.
13. There is no finish line in life.
14. The most productive days are the ones that are strategically driven.
15. The importance of unpacking my memories and sharing them.
16. Success, money, career, honors, and pleasures do not assure inner peace, joy, and love.
17. No matter how long you live there will always be choices as to how you respond to life.
18. It is never too late to make your dreams a reality.
19. The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater challenges.
20. No matter how old a person gets, we will be forced to confront our fears, weaknesses flaws and shortcomings.
21. Life is not a problem to be solved, but a process to be managed.
22. Love everybody but do not sell your sword.
23. When the old and new intersect, it often results in something extraordinary and compelling.
24. Do not let anger take over your life.
25. Everything in life has a shelf-life and an expiration date.
