Stolen From Molly
Stolen from Molly...
Instructions on Life...
1. Compliment at least three people every day.
2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
3. Remember other people's birthdays.
4. Sing in the shower.
5. Buy great books even if you never read them.
6. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
7. Learn three clean jokes.
8. Floss your teeth.
9. Drink champagne for no reason at all.
10. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
11. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
12. Return all things you borrow.
13. Teach some kind of class.
14. Be a student in some kind of class.
15. Never buy a house without a fireplace.
16. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
17. Once in your life own a convertible.
18. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
19. Plant a tree on your birthday.
20. Donate two pints of blood every year.
21. Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
22. Keep secrets.
23. Take lots of snapshots.
24. Write "thank you" notes promptly.
25. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
26. Show respect for teachers.
27. Show respect for police officers and firefighters.
28. Show respect for military personnel.
29. Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade." Instead, learn the trade.
30. Keep a tight rein on your temper.
31. Vote.
32. Surprise loved ones with little unexpected gifts.
33. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
34. Never mention being on a diet.
35. Make the best of bad situations.
36. Always accept an outstretched hand.
37. Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
38. Admit your mistakes.
39. Remember that all news is biased.
40. Let people pull in front of you when you're stopped in traffic.
41. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
42. Whistle.
43. Hug children after you discipline them.
44. Give to charity all the clothes you haven't worn in the past three years.
45. Never forget your anniversary.
46. When someone wants to hire you, even if it's for a job you have little interest in, talk to them. Never close the door on an opportunity until you've had the chance to hear the offer in person.
47. Don't mess with drugs, and don't associate with those who do.
48. Slow dance.
49. In business and family relationships, remember that the most important thing is trust.
50. Don't smoke.
51. Recycle old newspapers, bottles, and cans.
52. Never invest more in the stock market than you can afford to lose.
53. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness or misery.
54. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who'll never find out.
55. Never cheat.
56. Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.
57. When dining with clients or business associates, never order more than one cocktail or one glass of wine. If no one is drinking, don't drink at all.
58. Never use profanity.
59. Learn CPR.
60. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
61. Wear audacious underwear under the most solemn business attire.
62. When someone is relating an important event that's happened to them, don't try to top it with a story of your own. Let them have the stage.
63. Keep your watch five minutes fast.
64. Learn Spanish. In a few years, more than thirty-five percent of all Americans will speak it as their first language.
65. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.
66. When starting out, don't worry about not having enough money. Limited funds are a blessing, not a curse. Nothing encourages creative thinking in quite the same way.
67. Give yourself an hour to cool off before responding to someone who has provoked you. If it involves something really important, give yourself overnight.
68. When playing games with children, let them win.
69. Turn off the television at dinner time.
70. Skip one meal a week and give what you would have spent to a street person.
71. Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant, and plumber.
72. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
73. Take time to smell the roses.
74. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.
75. Be tough minded but tenderhearted.
76. Use seat belts.
77. Don't waste time responding to your critics.
78. Avoid negative people.
79. Resist telling people how something should be done. Instead, tell them what needs to be done. They will often surprise you with creative solutions.
80. Be original.
81. Be neat.
82. Never give up on what you really want. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.
83. Be kinder than necessary.
84. Encourage your children to have a part-time job after the age of sixteen.
85. Give people a second chance, but not a third.
86. Never take action when you're angry.
87. Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it.
88. Do battle against prejudice and discrimination wherever you find it.
89. Be romantic.
90. Let people know what you stand for- and what you won't stand for.
91. Be insatiably curious. Ask "why" a lot.
92. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
93. Have good posture. Enter a room with purpose and confidence.
94. Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
95. Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
96. Don't carry a grudge.
97. Show respect for all living things.
98. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
99. Observe the speed limit.
100. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
101. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
102. Don't waste time grieving from past mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
103. Be a good loser.
104. Be a good winner.
105. Spend less time worrying who's right, and more time deciding what's right.
106. Praise in public.
107. Criticize in private.
108. Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed.
109. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
110. Resist giving advice concerning matrimony, finances, or hair styles.
111. Have impeccable manners.
112. Never pay for work before it's completed.
113. Seek out the good in people.
114. Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.
115. Wave at children on school buses.
116. Keep it simple.
117. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
118. Don't gamble.
119. Lie on your back and look at the stars.
120. Leave everything a little better than you found it.
121. Cut out complimentary newspaper articles about people you know and mail the articles to them with notes of congratulations.
122. No matter how dire the situation, keep your cool.
123. Don't use a toothpick in public.
124. Never underestimate your power to change yourself.
125. Never overestimate your power to change others.
126. Practice empathy. Try to see things from other people's points of view.
127. Promise big. Deliver big.
128. Get and stay in shape.
129. See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery.
130. Remember that a successful relationship depends on two things: 1) finding the right person and 2) being the right person.
131. Never underestimate the power of love.
132. Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.
133. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
134. Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on purpose.
135. Hear both sides before judging.
136. Refrain from envy. It's the source of much unhappiness.
137. Be courteous to everyone.
138. Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vin ci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
139. Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in a harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.
140. Install smoke detectors in your home.
141. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
142. Don't be fooled. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
143. Never walk out on a quarrel with your spouse.
144. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
145. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
146. To explain a romantic break-up, simply say, "It was all my fault."
147. Don't let anyone talk you out of pursuing what you know to be a great idea.
148. Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not someone else's.
149. Be there when people need you.
150. Know when to keep silent.
151. Know when to speak up.
152. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you.
153. Just to see how it feels, for the next twenty-four hours refrain from criticizing anybody or anything.
154. Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
155. Save an evening a week for just you and your significant other.
156. Pay attention to the details.
157. Be loyal.
158. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
159. Remain open, flexible, and curious.
160. Every once in a while, take the scenic route.
161. Don't flaunt your success, but don't apologize for it either.
162. When you and your spouse have a disagreement, regardless of who's wrong, apologize. Say, "I'm sorry I upset you. Would you forgive me?" These are healing, magical words.
163. Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his death bed, "Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."
164. Share the credit.
165. Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
166. Make a list of twenty-five things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.
167. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
168. Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
169. Don't be afraid to say, "I need help."
170. Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
171. Don't undertip the waiter just because the food is bad; he didn't cook it.
172. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
173. Don't rain on other people's parades.
174. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
175. Don't make the same mistake twice.
176. Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.
177. Become someone's hero.
178. Marry only for love.
179. Count your blessings.
180. Call your mother.
Instructions on Life...
1. Compliment at least three people every day.
2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
3. Remember other people's birthdays.
4. Sing in the shower.
5. Buy great books even if you never read them.
6. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
7. Learn three clean jokes.
8. Floss your teeth.
9. Drink champagne for no reason at all.
10. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
11. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
12. Return all things you borrow.
13. Teach some kind of class.
14. Be a student in some kind of class.
15. Never buy a house without a fireplace.
16. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
17. Once in your life own a convertible.
18. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
19. Plant a tree on your birthday.
20. Donate two pints of blood every year.
21. Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
22. Keep secrets.
23. Take lots of snapshots.
24. Write "thank you" notes promptly.
25. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
26. Show respect for teachers.
27. Show respect for police officers and firefighters.
28. Show respect for military personnel.
29. Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade." Instead, learn the trade.
30. Keep a tight rein on your temper.
31. Vote.
32. Surprise loved ones with little unexpected gifts.
33. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
34. Never mention being on a diet.
35. Make the best of bad situations.
36. Always accept an outstretched hand.
37. Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
38. Admit your mistakes.
39. Remember that all news is biased.
40. Let people pull in front of you when you're stopped in traffic.
41. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
42. Whistle.
43. Hug children after you discipline them.
44. Give to charity all the clothes you haven't worn in the past three years.
45. Never forget your anniversary.
46. When someone wants to hire you, even if it's for a job you have little interest in, talk to them. Never close the door on an opportunity until you've had the chance to hear the offer in person.
47. Don't mess with drugs, and don't associate with those who do.
48. Slow dance.
49. In business and family relationships, remember that the most important thing is trust.
50. Don't smoke.
51. Recycle old newspapers, bottles, and cans.
52. Never invest more in the stock market than you can afford to lose.
53. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness or misery.
54. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who'll never find out.
55. Never cheat.
56. Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.
57. When dining with clients or business associates, never order more than one cocktail or one glass of wine. If no one is drinking, don't drink at all.
58. Never use profanity.
59. Learn CPR.
60. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
61. Wear audacious underwear under the most solemn business attire.
62. When someone is relating an important event that's happened to them, don't try to top it with a story of your own. Let them have the stage.
63. Keep your watch five minutes fast.
64. Learn Spanish. In a few years, more than thirty-five percent of all Americans will speak it as their first language.
65. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.
66. When starting out, don't worry about not having enough money. Limited funds are a blessing, not a curse. Nothing encourages creative thinking in quite the same way.
67. Give yourself an hour to cool off before responding to someone who has provoked you. If it involves something really important, give yourself overnight.
68. When playing games with children, let them win.
69. Turn off the television at dinner time.
70. Skip one meal a week and give what you would have spent to a street person.
71. Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant, and plumber.
72. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
73. Take time to smell the roses.
74. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.
75. Be tough minded but tenderhearted.
76. Use seat belts.
77. Don't waste time responding to your critics.
78. Avoid negative people.
79. Resist telling people how something should be done. Instead, tell them what needs to be done. They will often surprise you with creative solutions.
80. Be original.
81. Be neat.
82. Never give up on what you really want. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.
83. Be kinder than necessary.
84. Encourage your children to have a part-time job after the age of sixteen.
85. Give people a second chance, but not a third.
86. Never take action when you're angry.
87. Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it.
88. Do battle against prejudice and discrimination wherever you find it.
89. Be romantic.
90. Let people know what you stand for- and what you won't stand for.
91. Be insatiably curious. Ask "why" a lot.
92. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
93. Have good posture. Enter a room with purpose and confidence.
94. Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
95. Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
96. Don't carry a grudge.
97. Show respect for all living things.
98. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
99. Observe the speed limit.
100. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
101. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
102. Don't waste time grieving from past mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
103. Be a good loser.
104. Be a good winner.
105. Spend less time worrying who's right, and more time deciding what's right.
106. Praise in public.
107. Criticize in private.
108. Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed.
109. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
110. Resist giving advice concerning matrimony, finances, or hair styles.
111. Have impeccable manners.
112. Never pay for work before it's completed.
113. Seek out the good in people.
114. Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.
115. Wave at children on school buses.
116. Keep it simple.
117. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
118. Don't gamble.
119. Lie on your back and look at the stars.
120. Leave everything a little better than you found it.
121. Cut out complimentary newspaper articles about people you know and mail the articles to them with notes of congratulations.
122. No matter how dire the situation, keep your cool.
123. Don't use a toothpick in public.
124. Never underestimate your power to change yourself.
125. Never overestimate your power to change others.
126. Practice empathy. Try to see things from other people's points of view.
127. Promise big. Deliver big.
128. Get and stay in shape.
129. See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery.
130. Remember that a successful relationship depends on two things: 1) finding the right person and 2) being the right person.
131. Never underestimate the power of love.
132. Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.
133. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
134. Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on purpose.
135. Hear both sides before judging.
136. Refrain from envy. It's the source of much unhappiness.
137. Be courteous to everyone.
138. Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vin ci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
139. Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in a harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.
140. Install smoke detectors in your home.
141. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
142. Don't be fooled. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
143. Never walk out on a quarrel with your spouse.
144. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
145. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
146. To explain a romantic break-up, simply say, "It was all my fault."
147. Don't let anyone talk you out of pursuing what you know to be a great idea.
148. Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not someone else's.
149. Be there when people need you.
150. Know when to keep silent.
151. Know when to speak up.
152. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you.
153. Just to see how it feels, for the next twenty-four hours refrain from criticizing anybody or anything.
154. Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
155. Save an evening a week for just you and your significant other.
156. Pay attention to the details.
157. Be loyal.
158. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
159. Remain open, flexible, and curious.
160. Every once in a while, take the scenic route.
161. Don't flaunt your success, but don't apologize for it either.
162. When you and your spouse have a disagreement, regardless of who's wrong, apologize. Say, "I'm sorry I upset you. Would you forgive me?" These are healing, magical words.
163. Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his death bed, "Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."
164. Share the credit.
165. Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
166. Make a list of twenty-five things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.
167. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
168. Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
169. Don't be afraid to say, "I need help."
170. Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
171. Don't undertip the waiter just because the food is bad; he didn't cook it.
172. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
173. Don't rain on other people's parades.
174. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
175. Don't make the same mistake twice.
176. Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.
177. Become someone's hero.
178. Marry only for love.
179. Count your blessings.
180. Call your mother.