2013 is all wrapped up

These are things I learned about people this year. I've done quite a bit of people watching this year. These are the lessons I learned from that.

Volunteer. No one volunteers. I meet so many people who live in a bubble where nothing bad ever really happens. They haven't got a real idea about loss, or what it's like to really be poor, hungry, alone  or frightened. Volunteer and work with real people who are hurting. Don't give money,  don't run a marathon for cancer, sit down and talk to someone alone and frightened. Give yourself. I volunteered for years at meals on wheels(delivered meals) the Red Cross and at a nursing home. I can see the difference it made in me.

Time is the most important thing you have. Once time is spent you can never make more of it. Choose to spend your time on people, places, things, ideas, and work that is worthy of the most valuable commodity you will ever have. This year I watched people waste so much time and energy on things and people that was so trivial, and that time will be gone forever. Dont spend time on regret or hate. Remember each moment is precious. Don't bother worrying about what your ex..anything is doing, remember the ex part? I see so many people dwelling on ex experiences...to what purpose?

Be your own cheerleader because if you don't believe in yourself no one else will. Actually, when the world is against you, you know you are on the right track. The world doesn't want you to succeed. The world wants you to know your place. Show the world it was wrong. I've never had great successes without great adversity. Usually the harder it is to reach a goal, the bigger your success will be. Don't give up just because "they" want you to.

 I can't say this enough, people are busy. You are not their priority. Don't expect people to live up to your standards of friendship. Acknowledge that they are the center of their world, you are not. Love people, be there for them, and they will give back to the best of their ability. If you sit and keep score, you don't understand friendship. I see so many friendships die because people just expect to much. Oh yeah, being passage aggressive on Facebook never helps.

If you don't like your life, react differently. If you want change..you have to start with your behaviors. Sometimes that means losing in another area of your life to gain something else. Life is funny like that. I think the main thing is just figuring out what you really want. No one gets everything, if you don't settle you may not get anything. I think this has been the hardest thing I've had to learn in life. No one gets it all.

What are you fighting about? No really. If you love someone, sometimes you should just shut up.

Don't make promises you can not keep. If you say you are going to do something, do it. Your words hurt people, and promises should be taken seriously. There is nothing I hate worse than people who say something but can never be counted on to follow through.

You can do things alone. I have found the best things happen when you go places alone. Opportunities have trouble finding you in a crowd.

Happy 2014 everyone!