Hello Neighbor!

No matter how old I get, I always look forward to the beginning of September and the ritual of “back to school”.  As a child, it meant reuniting with friends, meeting new teachers, and purchasing school supplies.  As a mother, it has been a way to document my children’s growth with the traditional first day of school picture and comparison to those of years gone by.
Even though I no longer attend school, I believe that learning should be a life-long pursuit.  An avid reader, I have gleaned much knowledge from books that I have enjoyed over the years.  One of my favorites is Life’s Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Originally written as a list of fatherly advice for a son departing to college, this collection of wisdom became a best-seller that has sold more than five million copies worldwide.  If you’ve never had the opportunity to read it, I encourage you to do so.  As we embark on a new school year, I thought I’d share some of my favorite lessons from the book with you.

1)  Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
2)  Learn to listen.  Opportunities sometime knock very softly.
3)  Remember people’s names.
4)  Strive for excellence, not perfection.
5)  Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
6)  Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
7)  Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
8)  Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
9)  Be bold and courageous.  When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things that you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
10)  Every person that you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.

And now, more than ever,
11)  Be kinder than necessary.
12)  Make the best of bad situations.
13)  Vote!

Happy Learning!
Gina