The Forty Plus Years - Working Progress

This is a working piece I will add to over the next few months.

It seems strange that it took 40 plus years to find an inner peace and stranger still that I look back and now use the somewhat over used cliches "I wish I knew then what I know now. I think there's a particular arrogance we all have in the early years that says I know best, thanks for the advice but no thanks, something of which we're all guilty and yet the inevitability eventually comes when you get to "that age" and start to use "those cliches" for those that choose not to listen....

And so as a new way to procrastinate even more than usual rears up on its hind legs, I choose to pass on my unwanted knowledge, to a relatively unread page, to the relatively few people... and to that end  I  commit these few nuggets of life experience to the page...

1) Not everyone will like you and only the exceptional few wish the best for you. This is not a bad thing, its human nature... accept it. Show respect to all, help whenever you can and you can sleep knowing you have a kind heart.

2) Hate no one. If someone hurts you, simply remove them from your life until a time you can forgive them. Find the good in everyone. Every single person you know has a story, a pain, a past. Understand that they may also have been hurt and will pass that anger on to you. Forgive them to heal your own past. Equally seek forgiveness from those you have wronged, a clear conscience is the best sleeping partner.

3) No one is above you - no-one is beneath you. A simple rule and the one most difficult. Circumstance, religion, wealth, colour, sexuality, ethnicity and the multitude of other reasons we choose to look down on others. We are all equal, we are all human

4) You have a right to believe in whatever you want, you do not have a right to enforce it upon others. None should be subject to ridicule for there beliefs but at the same time should not ridicule others for theirs.

5) Everyone has a past, everyone has been through bad times - if you choose to carry that pain and not let it go it will define your character and personality.