Resonates the most for me is 6. I started taking Hula Hoop lessons!

I disagree with number 4 the most. I still can't make sense of hurtful and vindictive actions and they have only made me sad when I think about them and not better for the experience.

This an interesting list, eld. I, too, agree a lot with #6. Mostly because I have friends that have encouraged me to try new things. Last year I took oboe lessons with my friend, mainly because that is what she wanted to learn. We both agreed that it was a much harder instrument to learn than we had expected. But we had great fun and had a lovely young woman as our teacher. When she played it was so beautiful.

I guess #1 is hardest for me. I don't know if it is because I live alone or because I have always been like this, but I do like to talk. In 5th grade I had to write 300 times "I must not talk in line". I tried to outwit the good Sister and I used 3 pencils at one time! She didn't care what it looked like. It was the point although it was lost on me.

#2 has been invaluable in my life. Once I figured that out, so many things in life were so much easier. It's a good one.

Ohhhh, I think about #4 every once in a while. And almost lost my faith in God, because I prayed so hard for a relationship to work out. Later I saw that the person was an alcoholic and did not change. He died at 40. I think God let me go through all that to wise me up to alcoholics. I do not miss the chaos and anxiety, My life with him would have not been good, and I may have ruined my relationships with my daughters. My life is sooo good since I left him all those years ago. Just because I prayed for the relationship, doesn't mean it was what God wanted for me.

#6 I do not follow much, I am a "I am safer where I am, why rock the boat?" And I see others being very daring, and it works for them.

The one I disagree with most is the first. I think the intent is to say that if you blather on all the time or cry wolf all the time, people will stop listening to you - but that's not what it says. The way it's written, it says if you want your words to matter, don't talk much, and I think that's wrong. That encourages people to not take part in conversations, not to contribute brainstorming ideas, not to pass the time and gossip with neighbours - all things that contribute to a strong community at work or at home. I also think those things are particularly important for women, because the less women say, often they will ignored when they do talk, rather than listened to, especially by acquaintances, coworkers, and bosses.

The one that resonates most with me is #6.......Trying new things, going new places, chatting with new people has added so much to my life, in big and small ways.

I think lists like this are a way to remind us to think about how we live our lives and to make positive changes. I don't think you have to interpret them strictly. Some of you have already made cases for how they might be applied more liberally to be more helpful.

I like to take a moment to reflect on how I'm living my life occasionally and this list was a reasonable way to organize my thinking. Thanks for posting it, @eld6161.

Re #1: I think in some instances the more you say the less your words matter. I worked with some people over the years that just liked to listen to themselves talk even if they knew little about which they spoke. Many of the Indians I worked with were this way. After awhile I and others would just tune them out and ignore.

#4, with a modification...I don't necessarily think some of the difficulties I've faced ended up directly changed my life for the better. Most, did, however, change ME for the better, which I suppose, actually made my life better. Some of those things taught me #2, along with acceptance, empathy, sympathy, raised my awaremess of issues I wasn't aware of before, etc.

Oh boy what a bunch of New Ageisms.

#1 When we don't speak up the world loses an opinion that may have changed it.

#2 This one is right on. Sadly our world has convinced most it's all about me me me.

#3 Being aware of and dealing with problems saves a lot of unnecessary fails.

#4 Overcoming struggles often changes US for the better--l a struggle where you lose, will do the opposite often.

#5 BS BS BS. We meet many people because the world is full of people. Many interactions are perfunctory ,

#6 Trite little saying that is obvious.

#7 SOOOO far from fact. Truth is we face God with every breath we take. His opinion means 10k times more than yours does.

Arcy, interesting interpretation.

I have the "things" in my life so much better than the past decade. But lately, I have been looking back on the past, and the times I struggled financially, so much, are some of the happiest times. I'm not as happy these days. Or will I look back on now, and also find them to be happy? Is it time that washes away the bad?

I haven't found the key as to why FOR ME, but when I do, that will be the key to my life. Not everyone's. But #4 is the insight to my happiness.