This is the third of a series of 10 posts where I will attempt to answer questions that my mother has wished her mother (my Nana) could/would answer. If interested, you can get further info HERE.
3. What are the most important life lessons you've learned? When you think about what you want to be remembered for, what do you wish to hand down to others so that they might learn and benefit from the life you've lived?
Wow – where to start? I guess I’ve learned first and foremost that you only get one kick at the can so try to live every day to the fullest. Clearly trying to abide by the “Golden Rule’ is essential for a good life – I by that I mean ‘treat others as you yourself would like to be treated’ and not ‘he who has the gold makes the rules.’ I’ve learned that life is fair in that it is random in its unfairness and that there is no point crying over spilt milk. You have to be a good friend if you want good friends and a loving support group is the key to success and happiness. This is starting to look like a cliché collection so maybe I’ll press on to the next part.
I hope I am remembered as being a good person – in all aspects of my life. I like to think that I’ve done more good than harm and that I tried to be the best person I could be. During my early 20s I spent an extended period of time partying too much and generally hurting those closest to me. I suppose I wish I could revise portions of my history but I’m happy with the way things turned out so I suppose to a certain degree I would do it similarly, under the assumption that the end justifies the means.
If I was to hand anything down to the others it would be the advice that you should try to have all the fun you can, provided that it does not come at the expense of others. Concentrate more on what you want to do and not what you feel you should do or what others are telling you to do. It is a small world and I’m finally at a point that I believe that you can truly do anything you want, I always felt growing up that I have limited options and it is only in retrospect that I realize that the only thing that truly limited me was me. I’m terrible at self-reflection but I suppose I would encourage others to practice and perfect the ability to know oneself and discover what it truly important to you. The only thing more destructive than fear is regret. We will all do things we are not proud of – try to accept and find the power to forgive. Read more books, watch less TV and do what you love. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly ... LAUGH! Cheers.
