1339 WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?

Written by the late Andy Rooney, a man who
had the gift of saying so much with so few words:

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows..

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with..

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to b appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love (and clarity), not time, heals all wounds

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter  (Or more experienced) than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere..

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger   in his little  fist, you are hooked for life

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

2015
What have I learned?
I've learned that when it comes to learning about life, love and oneself, it's impossible to reach the peak of the mountain during our brief time on earth.  Even so, I'll continue to climb toward personal growth in hopes of gaining greater depths of insight into clarity, today, than proved true, yesterday.  And though I remain committed to clearing confusion out of my mind, I've learned to listen when intuition tells me to close up shop for a while and feel as wholly playful as if I'd been a child, who'd not had reason to stuff deeper truth concerning subconscious ghosts, who'd haunted my peace of mind, behind a wall of denial ...

What else have I learned?
I've learned that all work no play numbs awareness to pleasures I crave
As numbing my need for pleasure does not serve my spirit well
I'll make good use of insights, stacked high inside my head, by
Rejoicing over every positive aspect of my life, most especially
Family friendships, which mean the world to me ...

As David drove in from the coast, today, and
Steven, carrying Ravi, is walking through our front door, right now
I'm off to the living room to join in the fun on the rug, where
The antics of the youngest member of our family circus—who
Has, recently, grown to rock on all fours and
Sit up in a bobbling fashion—awaits her family's adoring attentions

I've learned that Ravi's contagious smile and
High spirited blue eyes light up each time
Her innate power of intuition instructs her to
Perform a magic trick that proves to
Delight her mommy, daddy, uncle, grampa and gramma ... and—

Ravi has learned that each time she locks eyes with one of us and
Her little pink tongue slips out of her mouth, offering up
Juicy raspberries, her just reward proves to be
Peals of adoring laughter from one and all, who
Appreciate this gift of happiness that
Her bright, sweet natured, sparkling presence
Offers to each of us so openly and freely

I've learned that to give freely is better than to receive
However to give till your spirit exhausts is to run out of fuel
And as emptied of fuel leads to spiritual frustration-stuck-in-a-rut—

I'm learning to refuel my spirit by
Gifting my heart, mind, time and energy
To those who have grown to truly appreciate
The woman whom I now know myself to be  ....