It’s once again Sunday afternoon, and the time has arrived to string together a few lines of text that allow my readers to peer through the window of my author world.  This week I’m feeling rather melancholy, moving week has finally arrived.  I’ve spent the week packing and sorting, boxing and taping, and as I’ve gone through all the things that needed to be packed, I’ve had a chance to walk down memory lane.  Items of yesteryears: the places I’ve been, people I’ve seen, children’s pics, and treasures I’ve collected.

At times like these, I can really relate to the characters I’ve created and have no trouble seeing myself in Jo and Gina. Sometimes, we have to cross yesterday to truly understand the potential of tomorrow.

As I sorted through box after box, I ran across a paper I’d saved, entitled “45 Life Lessons Written by a ’90-Year-Old’ Woman” written by Regina Brett and originally published in the Plain Dealer (newspaper) in Cleveland, OH.

Several of the lines of this sage woman’s advice, seemed to jump from the paper and weave their way into the fabric of my current, chaotic, daily life.  They also seem to fit this week’s book bubble, so I thought I would include her list here.  My hope is that this week’s readers will enjoy them as much as I do, find a few pieces that fit, and maybe see a little of me, themselves, Jo & Gina in the sage lines of advice!

So here you go, please enjoy and happy reading until next week!

Natalie

45 Life Lessons Written by a “90YearOld” Woman

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. Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.
9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
11. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
12. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
17. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
19. Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion.
Today is special.
20. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
21. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
22. The most important sex organ is the brain.
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
24. Frame every so‐called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
25. Forgive everyone everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
30. Believe in miracles.
31. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
32. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
33. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
34. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
35. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
36. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
37. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
40. The best is yet to come.
41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
42. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
43. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.