A Wise Man Once Said

Have you ever said that you wish you had an instruction manual for life? Well... this is as close as it comes. I usually tell you my New Year's resolutions, in hopes that publicly proclaiming my intentions will somehow magically make me follow through. Drum roll...

My 2011 resolution is to follow these simple instructions and try to live my life in harmony.


The Dalai Lama's Instructions for Life:

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Follow the three R's:
- Respect for self.
- Respect for others.
- Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone everyday.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need
for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

— Dalai Lama XIV


If you've never read the Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living, by Dalai Lama it's worth checking out at your local library.