Reflections on the Last Quarter Century

"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough." -Joe Lewis

I know I've been colossally lousy at updating this blog...but I'm back! Last month I reached a landmark birthday. I turned a quarter of a century old. A full 25 years of life. And they have been years filled with joy and sorrow (with joy predominating)! I have learned a lot in the last quarter century and for what it's worth, I thought I'd share some of those life lessons with you.

You know by now that I love quotes. Fun fact: I've been collecting quotes in a composition notebook for the last 15 years! So hopefully you will allow me to incorporate a few of my favorites into my little list of life lessons.

Lesson 1: There is no substitute for hard work. "Luck is a by-product of busting your fanny." -Don Sutton 

Lesson 2: Everyone has something to contribute. "Use what talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the very best." -Unknown

Lesson 3: Yes, even imperfect people (like me and you and the darling adolescents I teach) have something to contribute. "Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection. Yet they were accomplished, somehow, all the same" -Lois McMaster Bujold

Lesson 4: Spend your time on things that matter. "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard

Lesson 5: No one rises to low expectations. "It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him." -John Steinback

Lesson 6: To be successful, you're gonna have to fail. "One fails forward into success." -C.S. Lewis

Lesson 7: Life's going to be hard sometimes. Maybe even most of the time. But it's totally worth it. "Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments, but let us have patience and we shall soon see them in their proper figure." -Joseph Addison

Lesson 8: Be kind. "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." -Plato

Lesson 9: God's plans are often different than our plans. "Map out your future, but do it in pencil." -Jon Bon Jovi

Lesson 10: But they are always better than ours. "I am always content with what happens for I know that whatever God chooses is better than what I choose." -Epictetus

The last 25 years have been such a beautiful adventure! I look forward to the next 25!

Love,
Candace