Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Hey all! I came across this list of 18 rules for living that are attributed to the Dalai Lama. Big hitter, the lama. And they are slightly more helpful than receiving eternal consciousness on one's death bed. Here they are!
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. Although many great achievements do involve great risk, it's not universally true. Planning can minimize it.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. The term "losing" is interchangeable with "getting something wrong."
3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. And sometimes it's more than luck... sometimes things are too coincidental to be coincidence.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. I think instead of saying "break them" it should be "improve them" or "amend them." No rule is permanent, because with new knowledge rules can become irrelevant or inappropriate.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. If it's a great friendship, a little dispute will probably not cause much injury to begin with. If it does, it's probably not a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. Sometimes a mistake can product a better result... so perhaps not always.
8. Spend some time alone every day. Preferably on a golf course.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. My first thought was that sometimes values change... I would write it Open your arms to change, but don't let go of what makes you who you are.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Seems I might have this one backwards right now.... tending to be silent when I should speak up, and talking too much when I should be silent.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for you life. I like this one because I'm moving on Sunday and am very excited to create a nest of my own that I am happy to come home to every day.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. I'm due for something in 2008... we'll see!
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
2 comments:
hey, i like your blog. it's good to feel like i'm catching up on how you're doing. if i ever swing down to the big city perhaps i'll look you up?
hey em! i'm glad you like the blog. i'd hoped it would become a good tool for staying in touch with people despite geographic spaces and busy lives. if you're ever in the city, definitely feel free to do so!
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