Why Can’t I Get this Sammy Hagar Song Out of My Head?

Here’s what I’ve tried to learn in 55 years:

• If you love someone, tell them why
• If you don’t respect someone, it’s ok to walk away without telling them why
• Be comfortable with being yourself
• Laughter is an important part of self-care
• Show up and smile every damn day
• GET OUTSIDE AND WALK – This elevates mood, mind, body, and spirit
• When we focus on the good, we rarely have a bad weather day
• Freedom isn’t free…it’s priceless
• Secrets are painful so demand and deliver honesty
• If we don’t know, ask
• Choose a mentor who is so far above you that you get lightheaded every time you meet
• Smiling and walking with confidence opens life-changing doors (and scares off the creeps!)
• Comfy shoes are rarely a mistake
• We are beloved and we are never, ever, EVER alone
• Send, “Thinking of you, hope you are thriving” messages as often as possible
• Our parents generously gave us the 2 things we needed most: Roots and Wings
• Trust a plan that is far bigger than I could ever conceive and be perfectly comfortable that I don’t get to know what it is
• Apologize graciously
• Children are the gateway drug for grandchildren
• If one remarkable person loves you with their whole heart and soul, you are wealthy beyond measure
• Learn to enjoy adjusting the sails
• Being strong means that we control our feelings, not that we don’t have any
• Create something every day
• Our body reacts to excitement and nervousness the same way, so choose “excitement” for a burst of positive energy
• Forget the Bucket List – Have a “Damn, this is great!” life
• Life is risky, so make it “OMG, you did that?” worthy
• Initiate conversations with people of all ages
• A 2-year-old who wants to feed himself and a tornado have something in common: There’s gonna be a mess
• Anyone who looks into your eyes and smiles is seeing your genuinely beautiful soul – OWN THIS
• It is painful to push through our boundaries but how else will we become Super Heroes?
• Chai latte – enough said
• A manicure is never a waste of money because I glance at my hands I think, “I love myself enough to choose sparkles.”
• Instincts are sacrosanct
• Need a vacation now? Take a few slow, deep breaths and feel yourself relax
• Guard what goes in and spills out of our mouths (I’d give myself a D+ for this one!)
• Judge EVERYONE favorably…we do not need to know why they do what they do
• Did I mention that EVERYONE includes you and me?  Be gentle when we judge the face in the mirror
• Listen to “your song” together – on purpose
• Honor courage and ignore self-promotion
• Walking through a new city teaches through all five senses
• Music is medicine
• “Where there’s a need, there’s a seed.” Plant and tend faithfully
• Chivalry is underrated
• Raise a son to be the type of man who’d be good enough for a mentally healthy and capable daughter-in-law
• Empower our daughters to NEVER wonder if physical beauty is their best asset
• Make home a safe and comforting place
• Never embarrass anyone
• Tell someone if they have their skirt tucked into their pantyhose – it makes a great story where you’re the hero
• The most memorable meals have very little to do with the food
• Give experiences as gifts ~Example: Amtrak from LA to SLO to watch the sun setting all the way up the West Coast
• Choose the most compassionate spouse, capable & calm business partner, strict accountant, knowledgable attorney, and successful mentor possible and grow to their level
• Surround yourself with a faithful posse and pray for each other’s success
• Give more than you thought you could and take less than you need
• A grateful person cannot be bitter and a bitter person cannot be grateful
• G-d forbid, if it all ends tomorrow, make sure the ones who make the journ3y worthwhile know how great they are

Damn you, Sammy…I intend to THRIVE at 55!