Get Your Premium Membership

Lessons I Have Learned In Eighty Years - a Repost

Do the right thing even if you get criticized for doing it. If you are absolutely convinced you are right...reconsider! Setting a goal is the first step toward reaching it. You will never enjoy having something you stole from someone else. Say “no” to more things than you say “yes” to. The less you do the more tired you will get. Live each day as though it were your last. It may be!” You cannot outrun a bad reputation. Once people see you at your worst, they will always remember it, no matter how much better you get. Be yourself, you cannot be anyone else. Never trust anyone who has lied to you to your face. The biggest liars will tell you up front they are not lying. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you know what you’re talking about; if you don’t know what you’re talking about... for goodness sakes, keep quiet! Never give somebody something you want for yourself. You can go home again, but it won’t be like it was when you left. “Don’t do as I do, do as I say” is horrible advice and a worse example. Silence is not golden when you choose to remain silent in the face of injustice, bigotry, and bullying. Do not give a second thought to the enemy who speaks ill of you... expect it! One of the best ways to judge another person is to look in the mirror. If you are not a better person today than you were yesterday, you wasted some valuable time yesterday. When you lose your self-control, it is very difficult to recover. No matter how hard you try to change their opinion of you, some people are never going to like you!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/11/2021 8:59:00 AM
Milton, These are wonderful words to live by! My favorite lines are those about silence. Too many stand silent today.
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 12/11/2021 11:59:00 AM
I think so, Ann, when they should be speaking out. On the other hand, if they are ignorant of the matter at hand, they should remain silent. Just my opinion.
Date: 12/9/2021 6:50:00 AM
A high school teacher had this sign on her classroom wall..."SILENCE IS GOLDEN - DUCT TAPE IS SILVER"
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 12/9/2021 9:01:00 AM
I love it! Thanks for sharing, John.
Date: 12/8/2021 3:48:00 PM
I agree with almost every single one except one or two. There is one that can be interpreted in another light. This one: Never give somebody something you want for yourself. If you know a person who will like it as much as you do, buy an extra one and give them one too!!!
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 12/8/2021 7:13:00 PM
There you go, Andrea. Certainly, because you are just that type of person. I might rewrite that line the way you presented it. I just learned another lesson after eighty years! (chuckling)

Book: Reflection on the Important Things