Things I believe to be true...

There have been a lot of things I've been thinking about lately, some that frustrate me, some that please me...some just on my mind. I don't want to go into too much detail, because some of it is too personal, and yet I still feel the need to get it out.

So here are some "Things I believe to be true". You don't have to agree with me, this is just life as I see it.

1. Life is a "one shot deal". Don't waste it waiting, wondering or regretting. Do it. Say it. Jump in. Put your heart on the line. Or, know when enough is enough and walk away. You are born, you live and you die. Not necessarily in that order (Will Smith). Every time there is a "death" - divorce, job loss, loss of a loved one...you have to "stay alive" long enough to see what the rebirth will be - and there will be one. Don't close your mind off to the possibilities. Don't limit yourself to only what you know, only what's comfortable.
Take the leap.
Move.
Say hello.
or Goodbye.

2. Children need to be allowed to be children. They need to be allowed to sleep when they're tired. No matter what time of day that is. No matter if they are 6 mos old or 6 years old. If the child is tired - let them sleep.
They need to have time to play. Again, 6 mos, or 6 years. What happened to free, unscheduled, un planned, unstructured spontaneous play?! Who cares if they colour the grass orange? Who cares if they go outside the lines. Does it REALLY matter if they don't play the card game/board game by the rules...really? They're kids. Let them PLAY. Childhood is too short already. Soon enough they'll have to play the grown up game of life, by the rules. Let them be little. Give them toys and walk away. Don't hover, don't suggest, don't tell them they're "too big for that". Or, sit down on the floor and play with them. Don't suggest, don't time limit, don't structure. Just be in the moment. and play. Go outside. Go for a walk. Don't encourage them to grow up too quickly. Don't wish away the legos, the dress up clothes, the tea parties, the hide and seek. Don't treat your 4 year old like an 8 year old. Don't treat your 6 year old like a 12 year old. Don't treat your 10 year old like a 15 year old. Those ages will come. This one they are at right now, will never come again.

3. Roads run both ways. There are 2 lanes in every road. Literally and Figuratively. No one side should always be the only one travelled. No one party should always be giving, or always be taking. Roads run both ways. All year long.

4. Love is not always patient. or kind. Love can hurt. But if it IS love, it WILL prevail. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, if it is love, it will be worth it. No one else can judge your interpretation of love. Love does not have an age limit, a time limit, or a sense of right and wrong. What seems wrong to me, may be worth it for you. Even if I don't think it should be love, or could be love, maybe it is, for you. And I need to respect that. We all need to respect that. We can't judge eachother's interpretations of love. Love holds no boundaries.

5. Friendships come, and go. The older we get, the less friends we have. That's just the way it is. New spouses, children, careers, location changes, all of these things can affect friendships...but the friendships we do hold onto, the ones we covet and take great care of, the older we get, become so much deeper and fufilling. 1 true friend is worth more than a million simple friends.

6. Nothing lasts forever. Nothing. Nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad lasts forever.

7. You need to take care of yourself. You need to be role model for the little ones in your life. If you don't have little ones, you're still a role model, to the younger ones in your life. Don't drink too much. Don't smoke too much. Don't work too much. Don't fight too much. Don't give too much to everyone else, and leave those closest to you feeling shortchanged. Make sure you eat enough. Make sure you sleep enough. Make sure you laugh enough. Make sure you spend enough time with your family and your friends.

8. If you don't like it, change it. Life is a one shot deal. Don't wait, wonder or regret.

9. Ask yourself "Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?"

10. Money doesn't create happiness. Or fufillment. Only you can do that. From within.