Instructions for Life

A friend forwarded an email to me titled Good Karma. Ordinarily I don't open forwarded emails as I subscribe to the theory that true friends don't forward, but in the spirit of the New Year and the fact that I was in the midst of a procrastination episode, I opened it.

Inside I found the following Instructions for Life. According to the email, in order to receive truly good karma, I was supposed to forward the list myself. I recognized that any forwarding on my part would be hypocritical (and certainly have a negative impact on my karma), but in the spirit of family enlightenment I did send the list to Paul and Nora--both of whom said they don't read forwarded emails. Does this trait run in families? Anyway, I am posting the list on my blog because I like the message, and hey, everybody can use a little extra karma.

Instructions for Life

1. Take into account that great love and great achievement involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.