ToT: I've Learned a Thing or Ten

TOPIC:
Life lessons. What are 10 or 20 (or however many) life lessons you've learned so far? (Starting point: http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2007/09/regina_bretts_45_life_lessons.html).


Life is hard...there's no denying that.  But for most of us, we've learned a thing or two to help us get through.  Here are 10 of my life lessons.

1. Never take life too seriously.  It's bad for your health, gives you heartburn and you won't make it out alive.
2. Remember that logically speaking, hate is the opposite of love.  Think of the people you love the most and how BIG that feeling is.  Do you have room in your soul for a feeling that big, but negative?  Now...do you hate people?  I don't.  It's takes way too much out of my life.  I need that energy to devote to those I love...positively.
3. There will be people throughout your life who serve a purpose and who weren't meant to stick around.  Find solace from the lost relationship by remembering what you've learned from it,  either what to do or what NOT to do, and use it to your advantage later in your life, but NEVER wish ill things to those lost people.
4. There are things in life that we call "rewarding experiences."  You won't know what these are until their over.  When you are knee deep in a "rewarding experience," you will think it's the most difficult/frustrating/life changing thing that's ever happened to you.  And then the next "rewarding experience" will come along and frustrate you more than the one before.  These things are only rewarding when you can step back, look at them, and know that you handled the situation in the best way you knew how.  And this is how we grow.
5. If you aren't learning, change your perspective.  I learn something from every experience I have.  I make mistakes and then I use the lessons the next time.  If you are making the same mistakes over and over and over again, try looking for these lessons in your experiences and try changing something.
6. Never eat a Wendy's frosty followed by too many shots of tequila.  Just...trust me on that one.
7. Be the bigger person.  Rise above the ridiculousness of childish namecalling.  Show those bastards that you have more class and self control than that.  Sticks and stones, baby.  Sticks and stones.
8. Learn when to shut your mouth.  There are several great quotes regarding this matter.  "Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."  "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."  KNOW WHEN TO JUST KEEP YOUR PIE HOLE CLOSED.
9. Do your research.  On ANYTHING.  Know what you're buying.  Who you're buying it from.  Know where you're going.  How you're getting.  What you want.  What you need.  DO THE LEG WORK.  The pros.  The cons.  The ins.  The outs.  The what-have-yous. (Thank you, Dude.)  Know what you're doing...and don't do it blindly.  Nothing worth having comes easy.  And even if you don't follow your plan, you'll be better off for having done the research.
10. Love.  Just...love.  There is always room in your heart for more love.  After all, all we need is love.  And bacon.  And the love of bacon. :)