45 Life Lessons From Regina Brett
Like many patients, I found that heart valve surgery brought about a unique, introspective view of life.
That said, when I run across something that really makes me stop and think, I like to share it in this blog for your consideration. Sometimes these little stories, pictures and jokes help offset the seriousness of a topic like heart surgery.
Regina Brett - Columnist For The Plain Dealer
So, here is a great column from Regina Brett. If you didn’t know, Regina writes for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. She also hosts a show on National Public Radio.
Recently, Regina turned 50 years old. She celebrated that milestone by documenting her life lessons. Needless to say, I found a lot of value in these very appropriate, words of wisdom. Here are Regina’s life lessons:
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. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
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 OK to get angry with God. 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 OK 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; God 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 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 but 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. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God 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.
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 and saw everyone else’s, 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.
Wasn’t that great?
I really like no. 25 (”No one is in charge of your happiness but you.”) and no. 42 (”The best is yet to come.”) but I could go on about nos. 23, 26, 33 and 40.
If you have any comments, thoughts or life lessons that you would like to share, please click here.
Until next time…
Keep on tickin!
About The Blogger, Patient & Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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October 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
It has been 15 weeks since my valve replacement surgery. Folks say I should be glad to have a second chance at life. Instead, it will be a second or final chance at death. It doesn’t feel good knowing someday I will go through all this again. Guess depression can show itself anyway it pleases.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
This is great & timely … have to agree with you Adam on #40 !!!!!! I think it is true!
October 14th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Wow! I that’s great! I have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis and i am 45, so I have been going through alot, coming to terms with the fact I will have surgery soon. thanks for the list and your book! its helped greatly in approaching everything I need to do to prepare for surgery before and after.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am
To Ann Garcia, Dear Ann, Life IS a gift, and it’s your birhtday all over again 15 weeks ago!
Place a check mark on your desk calendar 15 weeks from now and when you reach that date, I double dog dare you to email me and let me know how much better you are feeling!
I did not have surgery, but my only son did, (much more painful!) and I can say he was given life all over again, and much better, with a new understanding of what really matters. You too, will get there dear; try to be patient thru the first few months (yes, months, not weeks).
As a parente and caregiver, (and worried- sick mom) it helped me a lot to write down my feelings each day on a little journal. I would not go back to an entry for at least 4 weeks, but to my surprise, every time I went back to an old entry, I was rejoiced that everything was going so much better than I had hoped and prayed for, though on some recent entries things appeared to be tough, they certainly were lighter than 4 weeks ago. Each morning, I had another little book where I would right 5 things (sometimes only 3) that I was grateful for as I woke up. You would be surprised how my list grew day by day!
I am rooting for you and praying as well. You can reach me at mercyturan@gmail.com if you wish or thru Adam’s blog, which I check almost every day. For my son’s “story”, type John Turan on the search box. (it’s been one year and 7 months since his Ross Procedure surgery).
It’s even better than that now, even thou he hasn’t updated that. It’s just that when things are going good, we forget to revisit and thank God every day for what we have. Good luck and good cheer!