That true love stories never have a happy ending!

Don't sweat the small stuff.... or even the big stuff once it's too late to change what happened!

To be more selective in the bridges I burn and to know my enemies and never lose track of them.

That there's no amount of kindness that can serve as a counter-balance to a single act of viciousness. Learned that one the hard way, after living with an angry man.

The only person you can really depend on is yourself.

To pray "Thy" will be done, not my will be done.

roll with the punches...

Give things 3 days. MOST things will work themselves out in 3 days, or at least not seem AS BAD.

Vickey-MN

the most important things in life, aren't things

That my picker is broke when it comes to men.

you wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if you knew how rarely they did----Dr Phil

"Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello
Good-bye, Good-bye, Good-bye, Good-bye,
That's all there is."

Simon & Garfunkel - Leaves That Are Green

Clare

That relationships are the most important "things" in the world. Family, friends, those are the greatest gifts you will ever have. That most stuff is "small stuff." That only a few things matter and you should strive for those things and seek them and nurture them and hold them sacred. To look at a person's heart and nothing else. To love unconditionally.

To be careful what I wish for and that the grass is not greener on the other side.

It's hard to pick just one but have to agree with almost everything everyone else said. Another thought.... "If money makes something better, than it's not really a problem."

Listen more, talk less.

Everything mentioned here.

I never burn bridges.

That the only person you can depend on is yourself.

Linda

Some subjects should never be discussed at the dinner table.

Karma always has a way of coming back around.

My religion is just as special as other religions.

All of the lessons listed above.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

To give thanks...for the memories of yesterday, for the gift of today and the possibilities of tomorrow.

Susan

after reading the above, I'd say I've learned most of those and they all seem valid. Especially depending on yourself. A person would feel out of place pretty often if they didn't ever learn to depend on their own common sense (if they have any).
And then realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, which leads a person to have empathy and a few dozen other important things.

I have to laugh about Karma, it works pretty fast on me! Oh, there have been days I've muttered karma will find them, but the second I do something I regret, I'll stub my toe or hurt myself, OR SOMETHING will happen to remind me to do my best! Life is a big classroom and Karma keeps me inline.

Be careful what you wish for....you just might get it.

Kindness/compassion doesn't cost a thing.

depend on no one but yourself, not your parents, not your spouse, not even the govt. for anything financial. if you can CYA you will never ever want for a single thing and will always be independently wealthy. i learned that as a young teenager when i earned enough $$ to live on my own well before 18 and started a 401K & IRA's at 19 :-) i'll be retiring in my 50's living solely off six figures of interest generated a yr from my lifetime of CMA ~ liz

Let your conscience be your guide.

Honesty is the best policy.

They are one & the same, just expressed differently.

I agree - The only one in this life you can truly depend on is yourself.

And that, no matter how bad it is, every day is a blessing because there are those who are so much worse off financially, spiritually, physically, and mentally, than I am.

To trust your instincts and don't allow yourself to get talked in to anything. If your gut is telling you something LISTEN.

That you need balance, in every aspect of your life, to be emotionally, socially and financially comfortable.

Who you marry, makes all the difference in the world.

Be true to yourself.
Something I tell my DH all the time because he tends to worry about EVERYTHING! "Don't worry about things you can't control or do anything about."

One size Doesn't fit all

It won't go back, so we have to go on.

I learned in Sunday School to love my neighbour as myself.

While I need to love and trust me - I need to love and trust others, as well.

Otherwise we end up with a rather sorry world.

Isn't trusting/working for only themelves much of what caused the big shot financial guys to get our economic system into our current mess?

And didn't we all help ... by figuring that we had a right to have whatever we wanted, right now, rather than waiting a while until we could afford it?

ole joyful

That Jesus gives me rules to follow because he loves me and wants what is best for me.

Although most of the above are good, to me the most important lesson I've learned is that the best things in life truly are free (or at least fairly cheap). Good conversation, watching a sunrise/sunset, watching nature at its best, a snowfall on a peaceful night, waves rolling in, a sincere compliment, a hug, a pat on the back for a job well-done...

An insincere thank-you is worthless. A sincere compliment is priceless.

Money's nice but it's a tool, just like a drill. You don't buy a drill because you want a drill. You get one because you need a hole or drive a screw or something. Few people eat money. So many people have their priorities misaligned.

That sometimes it's ok to allow someone to help you out. I used to believe that you can (and should) only rely on yourself, not anymore.

That there isn't "someone" for everyone, only a few lucky people.

Some people are just plain mean and evil.

That most people are basically good.

I forgot one very important one: Don't put off something you really want to do for too long, because you may never get to do it.

Life is not fair
Do not do business with family and if you do, be sure to have yourself covered.

To be careful who I trust.

To go with my gut feeling.

Don't go through life with blinders on, if something does not seem right, try to find out why before it is too late. I agree too, the only one you can truly depend on is yourself.

No one is guaranteed tomorrow, so make the most of today.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

Treat others how you'd like to be treated.