Words of Wisdom

By Regina Brett, 90 years old

Words of Wisdom by Regina Brett

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio.

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:.”

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.
Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

Burn the candles, use nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special
Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words, “In five years, will this matter?”

Always choose life.
Forgive everyone for everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Growing old beats the alternative—dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
All that truly matters, in the end, is that you are loved. (Amen!)
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield.

Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Regina Brett:

Short Bio of Regina Brett

I grew up in a litter of 11 kids in a hard-working blue collar Catholic family. My dad ruled with the belt and my mom rarely intervened to protect us.

In high school, I drank to ease the pain. At 21, I got pregnant and dropped out of college. At 25, I quit drinking for good, one day at a time. I got engaged to a man who broke my heart which launched me back to college. I wanted to write books but needed to pay the rent so I became a journalist.

After changing my major six times, I graduated with a degree in journalism at 30. Rocky relationships sent me to counseling to untangle the mess of shame and fear and release who the world told me I was. I finally discovered I was born worthy.

I went on a spiritual quest, attending retreats and visiting monasteries, and got a master’s degree in religious studies.

At 40, I married a man who cherishes me, then I got breast cancer a year later. After finding out I carried the BRCA1 gene, I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. I consider myself flat, fearless and fun.

At 45, I was so grateful to be alive I wrote the 45 life lessons life taught me. The column became a global hit. I wrote God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours which ended up on the NYT bestseller list. I wrote two more books and became a rock star in Poland where I have six books.

One of my favorite life lessons is, “The best is yet to come.” It’s true. Life gave me three grandchildren I love to the moon and back. I just finished writing a memoir about how I came to love the mom who couldn’t love me. I can finally love us both, which just might be my greatest victory.

Today, I love my self, my life and everyone in it. I hope everything I share here will help you do the same.