The lessons appear in no particular order, except number one remains number one.

1. All you need is Love.[1]
2. I am not perfect.
3. It’s not about me.
4. Skinny dipping is still fun.[2]
5. All I need is within me now.[3]
6. Great hitters hit more singles, more doubles, and more triples, than homeruns.
7. Homerun hitters strike out a lot, but they are still homerun hitters.
8. The sun always shines full force, even on rainy days.
9. Our eyes cannot see what our brains tell us is not there.
10. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back hurricanes (Florida 2004) are no fun.
11. No hurricanes since 2004: pretty cool.
12. I’d rather wash dishes than dry dishes.
13. I’d rather wash laundry than fold laundry.
14. I’d rather wear laundry than either wash or fold laundry.
15. Amazon v. Walmart is interesting.
16. No one is perfect.
17. Every person is a miracle, faults and all.
18. Nietzsche was right; without music, life would be a mistake.[4]
19. I’m still learning from my mother.
20. I’m still learning from my father.
21. We cook for ourselves today, but plant trees for children and grandchildren tomorrow.
22. Nature soothes me.
23. Those who hate only beat themselves up.
24. Learning to forgive frees us to Love unconditionally.
25. There is no place for blame; just move on.
26. Predawn hours pacing, patting, and soothing my children to sleep were precious.
27. I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.
28. Einstein was wise.
29. Christ was wise.
30. Buddha was wise.
31. Muhammad was wise.
32. Confucius was wise.
33. There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.[5]
34. There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.[6]
35. Mentors are priceless.
36. Satin sheets feel best when shared.
37. I prefer to follow the police on the highway, not the other way around.
38. I like roller coasters at theme parks; not in my daily life.
39. A young child’s smile is sweet, but my adult children’s smiles light my life.
40. Not all stepparents are step monsters.
41. Not all stepchildren are step monsters.
42. Much of what I really need to know I learned from the Beatles.
43. Bob Dylan also taught me much.
44. Kris Kristofferson earned his Rhodes scholarship. Then some.
45. Salt water and salt air refresh my soul.
46. I cannot say “thank you” too often.
47. I cannot forgive too often.
48. A shoulder leaned on is not a crutch.
49. Heads leaning on my shoulder are not burdens.
50. Nothing makes her mine, me hers, or anyone else, anyone else’s.
51. Feeling good was easy when Bobby sang the blues.
52. What an odd saying: “he’s dead to me.”
53. Albuquerque remains the land of mañana.
54. We all could use a little mañana right now.
55. The right to pause. Right now. This moment. Is a gift to ourselves.
56. I hope my children work to understand me just as hard as I work to understand them.
57. While I mean harm to no one, I understand mine is not the only perspective.
58. What others think of me is not my concern, although they probably wish I cared.
59. Today’s failure does not fail a lifetime.
60. Everyone stumbles; getting up is what matters.
61. If at first I succeed, I set my goals too low.
62. Sixty-two trips around the sun is a darn good start!

[1] Lesson 1, Happy Birthday: Fifty-Nine Lessons Learned In Fifty-Nine Orbits Around The Sun, https://mewalls.wordpress.com/ March 15, 2014. Lesson one has always been my lesson one.

[2] Lesson 44, Happy Birthday: Fifty-Nine Lessons Learned In Fifty-Nine Orbits Around The Sun, https://mewalls.wordpress.com/ March 15, 2014.

[3] Lesson 28, Happy Birthday: Fifty-Nine Lessons Learned In Fifty-Nine Orbits Around The Sun, https://mewalls.wordpress.com/ March 15, 2014.

[4] Maxim and arrow 33, Nietzsche, F. W., & Large, D. Twilight of The Idols, or, How To Philosophize With A Hammer. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. (1998).

[5] The Beatles, All you need is Love, Magical Mystery Tour (Capitol Records, 1967).

[6] Id.

This post and blog are copyrighted by Glen-Peter Ahlers, Sr.