In 34 years, here’s what I’ve learned…

1. Love is the answer; being right rarely is.
2. We spend way too much time in the work of crafting ourselves, and far too little time just being ourselves.
3. The greatest adventures come from wrong turns, so don’t let fear stop you.
4. Discipline is important to achieving dreams. Grace is even more important.
5. You can start over whenever you decide to.
6. Your childhood gives you character but it doesn’t control who you become.
7. Worrying about something that might happen is wasted energy.
8. If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people.
9. Success is not defined by status, money, education, career or another person but by the peace in your heart.
10. Money doesn’t give you character. Failure does.
11. When someone shows their true colors, don’t try to repaint them.
12. Anger isn’t nearly as impressive as patience. Nor is it as effective.
13. Listen more and talk less.
14. Boyfriends and husbands are lovely. Close girlfriends are gold.
15. You have to go home with your heart, so love freely but keep the key.
16. Vulnerability is the strength that separates the strong from the weak.
17. Everyone has a story. Make time for the adventure.
18. The more mistakes you make the more you learn. Take risks.
19. Dimming your light to make others feel more comfortable doesn’t serve you. Or them.
20. Go neither right nor left at the fork. Go right up the middle. Choose the narrow path. Take someone with you.
21. After thinking I would never fall in love again, I did.
22. No one has it all together. Forgive people. Even your exes. They’re just winging it, too.
23. There’s not just one person for you. Love takes a commitment. If you’re both willing, you can make a relationship work. Soul mates are made over time.
24. Another person will never complete you. Only you can do that.
25. If you’re not happy with yourself, you’ll never be happy in a relationship.
26. No amount of designer handbags or shoes is going to make you happy in the long run. The same goes for chocolate chip cookies.
27. The way people treat you is probably more about them, not you.
28. Boundaries are about self-preservation, not about alienation.
29. Black and white is an illusion. Life is gray.
30. Help out someone less fortunate for the joy of doing it. Then keep it to yourself.
31. Small minds focus on problems. Big thinkers focus on solutions.
32. Working hard doesn’t mean working smart.
33. Failure only happens to quitters.
34. Believe everyone has good intentions… even God.