Here Is Some Down Home Advice for Living the Rest of Your Life - Part 2

Copyright © 2010 Ed Bagley



On Society:



Call your family and friends often. Tell your family and friends you love them and care about them, and then show them your love and affection. We cannot get enough positive energy in this life because we are surrounded by too much negative energy. Positive energy is always better because it is grounded in love, and love conquers all things.



When someone reaches out to you for forgiveness, forgive him or her. When someone reaches out to you for acceptance, accept him or her. Ralph Walled Emerson said, "It is never too soon to do a kindness, for you never know when too soon will be too late." Profound words from a very wise and sensitive man.



Spend more time with people over 70 and under the age of 6. I promise you that if you do not spend more time with your grandparents and children in their infancy, you will regret it later in life. You will miss your grandparents more than ever when they are gone, and your children will not come back to visit you as often if you do not spend more time with them at an impressionable age.



The sooner you realize that you have been put here to serve others the better your life will become. There is no reward in being self-centered rather than other-centered. You can acquire money at the expense of others, you can acquire fame if you have good looks and talent, you can climb the corporate ladder if you step on people to get ahead, but nobody will spend time with you when your money evaporates with the stock market, your looks fade, your talent is expended, and you retire or are fired. People will consciously avoid you because you lack values, morals and ethics. They would rather spend time with their dog.



Make it your mission in life to lift someone up every day by smiling, helping, accepting, believing, loving and caring. Open doors for people, help them cross a dangerous street, empathize with their loss and sorrows, lead them to a higher power so they might live again in peace with themselves and their future.



What other people think of you is none of your business; the most important thing is what you think about yourself. Remember also that the most important conversation going on around you on the outside is the one you are having with yourself on the inside.



Your job will not take care of you when you are sick or laid off-your family and fiends will. Stay in touch, and treat everyone-not just your family and friends-with love, acceptance and approval. They may need you, and you may need them on the QT.



On Life:



Do the right thing, always. Always make your decisions in life-big and small-with right thinking and right motives. That means that you are going to have to be just as much other-centered as self-centered, if not more so. But you will maintain your integrity, sleep well at night, and never have anything to cover up or apologize for.



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



Do not be confused about God and his place in your life. God heals everything. If He created the world and you, He most certainly can give you the healing you need. Trust in the Lord in all things, and lean not unto your own understanding.



Realize that no matter how good or bad a situation is, it will change. Change in life is inevitable, so be prepared to adjust to change and make the best of it, and your situation.



No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up ready to take care of your opportunities and responsibilities. Step up and do what you should. Man up and woman up. Be responsible, accountable, reliable and productive. When you screw up, fess up. Do not blame others. Admit your mistakes. When you say "I'm sorry" mean it.



When you wake up in the morning, thank God for another day. Do not be assumptive about your future existence. A little gratitude in life will take you farther than conducting your life as if there is no God.



Remember that the best in life has not yet happened. If things are not gong your way, you can in large measure guide yourself to better life by changing your attitude, personality, sense of duty, discretion, judgment and effort.





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