Lessons are meant to be learned. They are meant for the student to receive, understand, apply, and move on to the next lesson. Sounds easy enough, right? Too bad it really isn't that easy. Lessons come at us all the time. Moments we encounter offer us opportunity to act, react, but most importantly-LEARN. This is all part of life. Think about your past week. Are there things you wish you had done differently? If you had done things differently, would the outcome have changed? Or would it be your own peace of mind which would have been affected? Both of those are important (or so I believe). Think about things which you have encountered countless times. You know-how you deal with those people in the mall or grocery store who apparently have much more important places to be which is why they about knock you over. You have probably thought of so many "I should have said...", or "I should have done...". But have you said or done those things? Why or why not? What about when you know you have messed up something? Is it the first time you have messed that area in your life (or another life) up, or has this become a pattern of behavior? Have you thought how you could make it different next time? And did you? Probably not, which is why you continue to go down the same roads each time it happens. For me, I look at it like cookies and cereal. (I wish I could have seen your face as you read that last sentence.) Let me explain. When I got to the store to pick up one or two things, somehow I always make it back with cookies or cereal. And I can't just get one box. You see, if I get one cookie package, I have to get another one. Not sure why. Maybe things just go better in pairs. As for cereal...this is an addiction and issue all in itself. I go down the cereal aisle just to see if there is anything new. Not sure why. It's not as though I haven't been done the cereal aisle in weeks. It's more like a few days. Then I find something we may not have but that sounds so good. If it is sweet, I have to get a "healthy" one too. If it is healthy, then I must get a sweet one. Next thing I know-there are 4-5 boxes in my cart. Good thing I was just going to pick up some hamburger meat, or paper towels, or veggies. All of which are nowhere NEAR the cereal or cookies. How does that come to my mind when thinking about the beginning of the last paragraph? Simple. I know I do not need these things. I want them. I will find a way to make room in the pantry for them. (You should see my cereal shelf-2 layers deep!) I know it drives my wife crazy. Could I get out of the store without doing this? Sure. I even mean to sometimes. But I get distracted by the thought of cereal and there I am again. Good thing buying cereal isn't such a bad thing. What about things which are though? What about behavior patterns which actually can be harmful? Maybe floating to those certain channels on TV you know you shouldn't go to. Maybe those random websites you know you should stay clear from. Maybe those toxic friendships which do nothing but get you into problems. You want to do the right thing, but it's hard. This is where "LIFE LESSONS" comes in. This is not some self help book. This is simply some things I have learned over the past 44 years of living. As I think about the random lessons I have learned, it helps me begin to make adjustments to how I perceive things. Those perceptions then help adjust how I act and react. I am still learning. I have a long way to go. Maybe a few of these lessons can help you out. Maybe they can help out someone you know. Some may make you laugh. Some may make you mad. Some may make you have to think. Regardless of what it stirs in you, I know I have learned from them. Now if I can simply get my life to follow through with what I learn in each of these lessons.