7 life lessons I’ve learned over the last 39 years

Today’s my 39th birthday.
 
 Statistically speaking, I’m nearly halfway through!
 
 That’s an odd feeling.
 
 I have been reflecting quite a bit on my life today, and thought you might enjoy reading a few lessons that I’ve learned in the first half of my life.
 
 Here are 7 life lessons I’ve learned.

1. Relationships matter.

Imagine for a moment that you are lying in a nursing home, toward the end of your life.
 
 What do you want?
 
 My guess is you want family and friends around!
 
 Relationships matter! Be intentional about creating them!
 
 My girls were in girl scouts at one point, and they had a song that I loved.
 
 The song starts “Make new friends, but keep the old”.
 
 It’s that simple. Make new friends, and keep the old ones if possible. 
 
 Try to stay in touch with old friends, but don’t worry too much about those that leave either though.
 
 I believe some people are only supposed to be in your life for a season or a moment.
 
 Don’t waste your life chasing after those people.
 
 The people who want to be a part of your life will come and stay.
 
 While you might go through a few rough spots, for the most part those relationships will be easy, and enjoyable.
 
 Those are the ones you want to keep and focus your energy on.

2. Want to help yourself? Then help others!

Zig Ziglar once said “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”
 
 I’ve found this statement to be true in my own personal life and career.
 
 The more I help others without expecting anything in return, the better I feel about myself, and the better my life in general seems to flow.
 
 When I get too selfish, that’s when things fall apart.
 
 Help others!

3. Money isn’t everything, but it is important.

There is a country song that I like. One of the refrains is, “They say money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy me a boat.”

How true is that??? 
 
 Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy experiences.
 
 Money can also solve a lot of major problems as Bill and Melinda Gates have found with their work on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
 
 What it can’t buy is true relationships or lasting happiness.
 
 Relationships you have to work on, and happiness is a choice.
 
 Piles of things will not make you happy for long.
 
 Money can be a major problem if making and hording it is front and central in your life before God & family, but ignoring it is simply not wise either.
 
 Here are a few of the things the Bible has to say about money.
 
 Proverbs 21:20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
 
Proverbs 28:19 Work hard, and you will have a lot of food; waste time, and you will have a lot of trouble.
 
 Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
 
 Bottom line? Money is important, make and use it wisely. But don’t let life pass you by in the pursuit of it.
 
 Money isn’t everything, but it is important!

4. Put on your own oxygen mask first.

Have you ever been on a flight and listened to the flight attendants speak about what will happen if the plane loses pressure?
 
 
 If you have, you’ve probably heard this one.
 
 Oxygen masks will drop down. Make sure to put on your own oxygen mask first, then help the person next to you.

Why is that important?
 
 Let me ask you this, if you are passed out from lack of oxygen, how many people are you going to be helping?
 
 Exactly! You won’t be helping anyone! They will be helping you!
 
 Put on your own oxygen mask first, do what is necessary to make yourself healthy and happy or you won’t be much good to anyone including yourself.
 
 Once you have put on your own oxygen mask, then go back to #2 and help others, and you will be ready and able to do so.
 
 Put on your own oxygen mask first!

5. Be true to yourself

Life is far too short to be worrying about what others think all the time.
 
 Be true to yourself and live your own life and go after your own dreams.
 
 Don’t worry too much about what others are doing.
 
 Say what you mean and mean what you say. Certainly there are ways to say things in such a way that the other person can hear them without getting too offended, but don’t get so caught up in worrying about what other people will think that you don’t express your own needs.
 
 Be true to yourself!

6. K.I.S.S.

I went into this idea in more depth in one of my previous articles 3 Lessons about Life I Learned from Leighton.
 
 Life doesn’t have to be complicated. We just make it complicated.
 
 Keep It Simple Stupid!

7. Enjoy it

Life flies by. Don’t live too seriously, take the time to enjoy it!
 
 Those are my 7 life lessons. Now it’s your turn!
 
 What life lessons have you learned?
 
 Comment below with your ideas, and don’t forget to sign up at http://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/ to get more articles like this in your inbox!