LIFE'S LESSONS

As we travel along the road of Life we come in contact with a large and varied mix of people, situations and experiences. Most of these, like passing clouds, will impact us for a fleeting moment and then move on, leaving little or no memory.

However, from time to time, someone, or something or some experience occurs and so affects us, that from then on our lives are changed permanently and irreversibly. We can all relate to the thousands of such occurrences that have taken place in our personal lives and recall the impact of each one on us. Often they remain visible as milestones along the way.

In my own life, among the very many examples, I can think of My Parents, who by word and by example taught me the meaning of honesty, loyalty and family commitment. My late Uncle, from whom I gratefully acknowledge the true meaning of responsibility and justice and to Fr. Graf, my High School Science teacher, who instilled the love of learning and sacrifice in my young mind. Even now, having crossed my 75th year, I still recall these experiences gratefully and fondly, and try always to pass on the lessons learnt to succeeding generations.

Brett Favre, the hall-of-fame quarterback who led the Green Bay Packers successfully for several years has been quoted as follows:

“Life deals you a lot of Lessons;
Some people learn from it, some people don't.”

This simple statement crystallizes in a few words the real meaning of the lessons of life. As we proceed along the road of life, we are all constantly exposed to opportunities to learn and grow in knowledge and insight. Lessons are all around us and opportunities surface in every aspect of our lives. How we meet them and how we make use of them makes the difference.

Most of us blunder through life expecting everything will be done for us and unwilling to expend energy or effort toward our growth and improvement. What a pity, for we end up living out our lives in blissful ignorance, cheated from rewards to which we are capable. Others welcome the opportunities, irrespective of difficulty, as valuable chances to learn more and be more. These are the people who will benefit from all of life’s blessings. They are the leaders, the innovators, the inventors, the thinkers and all other successful people to whom the rest of us look with awe and admiration.
Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States, in one of her essays wrote:

“Learning is not attained by chance;
It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence”

Perhaps we can learn from this advice, and be more alert and diligent to the lessons of life as we continue our travels along the road.

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There are no mistakes or failures; -only Lessons
…….Denis Waitley

The greatest Lesson in life;
is to know that even fools can sometimes be right
……..Horace

The Lessons of the past are ignored and obliterated,
In a contemporary antagonism known as the generation gap.
…….Spiro T. Agnew

There are no regrets in life; - just Lessons.
……Jennifer Aniston

He who follows his Lessons tastes a profound peace.
…….Moliere

Lessons are not given, they are taken.
……..Cesare Pavese