50 Things That Really Do Matter
(Short Shots On Living
An Exceptional Life)
This is a guest article by Lee Wise, reprinted with permission.
It's one you'll want to read over and over, and share with your friends.
In my opinion, these things matter...
- Listening enough to care and caring enough to listen.
- Being a dreamer but not living in a dream world.
- Saying "It doesn't matter" and meaning it.
- Being a positive influence in any way possible, to as many as possible, for as long as I possibly can.
- Balancing justice with mercy and fairness with common sense.
- Being patient and patiently enduring.
- Earning credibility instead of demanding compliance.
- Valuing the wisdom of discernment, the danger of pleasure without restraint, and the joy of victory with integrity.
- Being worthy of trust and trusting what's worthwhile.
- Enjoying all things small and beautiful.
- Words that heal.
- Words that help.
- And words that encourage.
- Forgiving myself for what I've done and others for what they haven't.
- Gaining what I desire without losing what I should gain.
- Maintaining the passion of purpose while avoiding the pitfalls of making hasty decisions with little or no discernment.
- Watching "You've Got Mail" one more time.
- Enjoying life for all it holds instead of holding out for all it has yet to become.
- Giving praise without demands and encouragement without expectations.
- Hugs.
- Healing wounds.
- And helping people realize their dreams.
- Knowing when I can, can't and shouldn't.
- Laughter for the sake of laughter!
- Leading while not forgetting how to follow.
- Honoring the honorable and avoiding the painful errors of the disgraceful.
- Knowing the power of commitment, the rewards of self-discipline and the meaning of faith in myself, God and others.
- Smiles -- lots of them.
- Learning as much as I can for as long as I can.
- Standing for what's right when everything's wrong, and saying "I'm wrong" when something's not right.
- Letting the music play.
- Knowing I can and seeking help when I can't.
- Just doing nothing at just the right time.
- Filling my mind with all that is excellent, truthful, full of hope, and worthy of thinking about again.
- Kisses that say "I love you" more than "I need you."
- Treasuring ideas for their untapped potential.
- Caring.
- Giving.
- And having fun.
- Refusing to believe lies about myself or others regardless of the source -- including what I hear from within.
- Trusting enough to see good in people without blindly trusting in the goodness of all people.
- Success without self-absorption.
- Showing I know the difference between keeping the rules and listening with understanding.
- Winning with dignity.
- Losing with grace.
- And learning from both.
- Believing in all my possibilities -- and yours too!
- Appreciating the wisdom of maturity and the beauty of childhood.
- Avoiding the bondage of bitterness, the deceit of wealth without character, and the vanity of pride without gratefulness.
- Loving for all I'm worth because in the end it's worth it all.
Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time, Lee.
"You can treasure many things.
You should treasure a few things.
There are two things you MUST treasure.
Treasure life.
And treasure people."
Copyright 2004, Lee Wise. All rights reserved
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