Rules to live by

Today I recieved and email that very much fit my frame of mind. I felt I should share the contents with everyone...

21 Rules to Live By (from Anthony Robbins)

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

This seemed to settle into my soul as I have been going through some tough moments of late. My kids are teens now and are being brought up in the same religous background as I was. Until recently I have never had a problem with that, but now things are changing.
My 15 yr old daughter has decided it is time to challenege me on my life. Or as she's been taught to call it "my choice of lifestyle". I remember being 15 and what confused emotions brewed in my heart and head.
I have always tried my very best to be honest with my kids. Never hiding who I am from them. I have always answered their questions honestly, in hopes of fostering the mindset that it is ok to speak their minds and tell me of the things goin on in their lives. My Life has never been thrown in their faces and I have made it a priorty to always be an example for my kids. My daughter feels that I have not been a good example, due to the fact that I divorced her mother and went on with my own life. A typical feeling for a child of a divorced home.

I explained to her that my parents remained married for all my life and still are. But I used to pray for them to divorce. You see, doing what the church calls "the Godly thing" or what is expected of us by family and peers may not always be the answer. Most times I believe we are much better to search out what is best for ourselves. Not to say that following a religion may not be helpful in that search. But we tend to get caught up in that and misss the spiritual part of who we are.

My Family are all very religious people. But sadly do not know anything about spirituality.
I began searching for depth in my spirit at a very young age. And I lean on what my experiences have taught me. I trust that each of you will take the time to ask yourself, "am I leading the life I want to lead? Or am I following tradition? Going with the flow?

I challenge you to be YOU! To examine that person who hides inside wanting desperately to be free to come to the surface and experience life to its full potential!

Have a blessed day.
Pup