"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote

the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-
requested column I've ever written. My
odometer rolls over to 70 in August, so here
goes:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to
disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying
alone.

8. It's okay to get angry with G~d. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11 . Make peace with your past, so it won't screw
up the present.

12. It's okay to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no
idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't
be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
But don't worry; G~d never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful,
or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you, really does make
you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and up to no
one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love
in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear
the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special
occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to
wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness
except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these
words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29 What other people think of you is none
of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will
change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you
are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. G~d loves you because of who G~d is, not
because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it
now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it
memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting
everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile, we'd grab
ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all
you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and
show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.