Lessons I Have Learned In Eighty Years

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

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Krutsinger Avatar
April 12, 2021 at 6:44 AM
Every liar I have ever met has said this to me "I am not lying". Truthful people have never said it to me.
Hankins Avatar
April 12, 2021 at 7:29 AM
LOL. True, isn't it? When people begin by saying, "I'm telling you the truth," I brace myself.
Rushing Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 4:14 PM
Milton these are truly words to live by! Especially saying no to more things than you say yes to! If I would have just done that more in my 52 years there is no telling where I would be today! I will fav this to remind me of this sage advice! Have a blessed day my friend!
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 5:07 PM
Ah, Wren, thanks for your visit and for your kind and thoughtful words.
Edmonds  Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 2:43 PM
Very good advice L. I wish I’d read this when I was younger, I was never given proper guidance I’m sad to say, had to live and learn the hard way... Belle
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 5:06 PM
True, most of us did, Belle. Read what I wrote to Ilene below. Your comment is so well taken.
Bauer Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 1:07 PM
a wonderful collection of sage advice, milton! i agree with everything you've written here and wish more people would follow some of these suggestions...
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 5:05 PM
Thanks so much, Ilene. I enjoyed writing these down. Some of them were remembered advice from my mother. Hope you found something memorable. If more people followed these teachings, the world would be a better place, eh?
De Beaulieu Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 12:19 PM
Hello Milton, yes these are all true facts. Yes be yourself because that is the only person you can be. I am always quiet whensomeone is talking. Yes that is true -when you go home again it is not the same. Enjoy your day my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
April 12, 2021 at 3:36 PM
Thank you Milton yes i did have a wonderful weekend.Thank you. Enjoy your weekend. my friend.
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 12:39 PM
Thanks for the read and the neato comments, Darlene. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Faulkner Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 9:39 AM
Many great tidbits of wisdom here, I can relate to 'the less you do, the more tired you will get' - seems contradictory but that feels like my life right now! Also the part about silence not always being golden so apt, especially with everything happening in this country now - one thing I"ve always thought is 'wisdom is knowing enough to know you might be wrong' - this gives much to ponder!
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 10:13 AM
Thanks so much, Michelle. Yeah, when I'm in a group setting I just sit quietly and say nothing unless I'm specifically asked for my opinion. I learn so much from listening to others. Just like in PS, I learn so much about poetry by reading other people's poems! Also, we do need to speak up when we see something that's not right.
Y. Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 9:34 AM
Wow! L. Milton, I see pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout your poem. I saw valuable lessons and great advice too. You have learned much in your eighty years. Thanks for penning such a meaningful write. This is going straight into my fav collection. Have a great day and weekend. PS, so worthy of P.O.T.D. or P.O.T.W. :-) Alexis
Hankins Avatar
April 10, 2021 at 10:11 AM
You are too kind, Alexis. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I figure if PSers each take one lesson to heart, the world will be a better place, eh?
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