作者：[美]Regina Brett来源：《羊城晚报》

为了庆祝变得更老了(下个月我这把老骨头就要90岁了)，我写下人生教我的45个功课。 这是我写过最叫座的专栏。1.人生是不公平，但还是好得很。
2.怀疑的时候，朝着未来踏出一小步。3.人生太短，短到来不及浪费时间去恨任何一个人。
4.生病的时候，你的工作不会照顾你。 你的朋友和父母会。 保持联络。
5.每一个月付清你的信用卡。
6.你不需要每一次都吵赢。 同意你不同意的。
7.找人一起哭。 它比独自啜泣更加疗愈。
8.对上帝生气没有关系。 祂受得了。
9.退休存款从你的第一张薪水条开始。
10.讲到巧克力，抗拒只是徒劳无功。
11.和你的过去和解，它不会搞砸你的当下。
12.让你的孩子看到你哭没有关系。
13.别拿自己的人生和他人做比较。 你根本不清楚他们的人生是怎么一回事。
14.如果一段亲密关系要偷偷摸摸，你根本不应该涉入。
15.一眨眼的功夫什么都会变。 但是别担心: 上帝从来不眨眼。
16.深吸一口气。 它会安定你的大脑。
17.没用的，不美的，或不喜悦的东西都丢掉。
18.没让你死的事情，真的会让你更坚强。
19.重拾快乐童年永不嫌晚。 但这第二次只能靠你不靠人。
20.当关乎追求你生命的所爱，不要把不要当答案。
21.点蜡烛，用好的床单，穿上炫丽的内衣。 不要特殊场合才用。 今天就是特别的一天。
22.准备要周全，然后随遇而安。
23.现在就离经叛道。 不要一把年纪了才开始穿上紫色
24.最重要的性器官是脑袋。
25.除了你，没有人在主宰你的快乐。
26.把你所有的不幸用这一句话把它表框起来:”五年后，这还重要吗?”
27.永远选择快乐地生活
28.原谅每一个人每一件事。
29.别人怎么看你根本不关你的事。
30.时间会痊愈几乎每一件事。 给时间,时间。
31.无论情况多好或多坏，它都会变的。
32.不要那么认真的看待自己。 没有人会这样看待你的。
33.相信奇迹。
34.上帝爱你是因为祂就是爱你这个人，不是因为你做了什么或是没做什么。
35.不要谨慎地稽查人生。 现在就呈现出你最大的发挥。
36.变老了是胜利，它打败了另一种选项- 死得早。
37.你的孩子只有一个童年。
38.真正最重要的是你爱过。
39.每一天都出门。奇迹在四处等着。
40.如果我们都把我们的问题都丢成一堆，然后看看其它人的,我们会把我们的捡回来。
41.别忌妒别人浪费时间。 你已经拥有你所需要的了。
42.相信你最好的都还没来。
43.不管你感觉如何，起来，穿好和呈现。
44.善待每一个人。
45. 人生最终不会被打上蝴蝶结，但它仍然是一份礼物。对于生命，你永远有选择更好版本的机会与能力！(常宏摘自《羊城晚报》2009年12月4日)英文版
Regina Brett’s 45 life lessons and 5 to grow onBy Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer
Originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 28, 2006
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.