Life at 40!

By the time life starts to make some sense you are already 40. Yes it does take that many years to put life in the right perspective. Forties bring a sense of calm, sense of accomplishment, sense of maturity and a great sense of reflection with it. Nothing beats the clarity that this age brings to you. Looking back you realize number of things you could have done differently. Number of decisions you could have taken otherwise.  In retrospect, here's a list of some great life lessons (in no particular order) that I would like to remember, implement and share, as I reach this important milestone in my life. After all life is all about looking forward and making the best of it -

1. Connecting with Nature is the best thing you can do to yourself. Nature is the best detoxifier and a natural healer known to human kind. It ensures your mind body and soul stays nourished and at its best! Make the time for it.
2. We are all slaves of our habits. Break patterns. Check & reset your metabolism as well as your attitude towards things every now and then.
3. Eliminate negative and corrosive people from your life sooner than later. You are not obligated to bear the burden of their negative thoughts or their company.
4. Your quality of life starts to ascend as soon as your thinking does. High thinking & integrity is your true wealth. 
5. We come to this world as an individual and we will leave it as an individual. Everything in between is what we knit. Choose consciously and knit something you will be really proud of looking back.
6. Every situation in life is an outcome of a choice you made at some point in time. Think deeply and choose wisely whenever possible. It’s always possible.
7. Life is a microcosm, our thoughts generate our actions our actions decide our future. Take the time to check your thoughts, that’s where it all starts.  
8. Hang out with quality people.  People who genuinely care for you. People who make you laugh. People who you can learn from. People who share the same wavelength & frequency as you. People who fill your bucket and instill self confidence in you. Your company influences you more than you think. 
9. You cannot change others. Look inward and change things within you that will help you emerge and shine. Don’t waste your time fixing people around you, that's an unrealistic & un-achievable target. Fix your inner self and it will take care of the rest.
10. Action without passion is just waste of time. Instill passion in what you do, success will come naturally.
11. Don’t follow people, follow you heart instead. Believe in your uniqueness, your individuality. Respect it. Always be true to yourself. Do things that connect you with yourself. Your heart knows what those things are.
    
12. Don’t let other’s opinion or criticism deter you from achieving the heights you were born to achieve. Follow your gut, it will guide you in the right direction.
13. Your past is a gold mine of learning. Learn as much as you can from it then implement it to build a new, brighter future.
14. Never stop dreaming. Make sure after you dream you think about the path that will take you to fulfilling those dreams. No dream is too big.
15. There is no shortcut to success. Work on the right things and work hard.
16. Time is the most valuable asset. How you decide to spend your time is going to decide where you land and what you achieve in life. Make plans, create a road map and decide what you want to do with your time. Once your time expires there is no extension.  
17. Even in the most emotional situations, try not to lose sight of objectivity. Listen to your mind as much as you listen to your heart. The two work great in balance.
18. Forgive and move on. Life is too short to keep a list of grudges. You are the only one who can set yourself free. Life is not worth spending as a slave to unpleasant memories.
19. Kindness and Empathy are the two great gifts you can give yourself and others.
20. Expand your horizon. Travel and explore. It brings a level of sophistication school cant provide. 
    
21. Life is the best teacher, be open to learn and take those lessons to your heart.
22. Your kids have their own unique take on life, its important you take the time to understand and respect it instead of focusing on what you need to teach them all the time. What they know can teach you a thing or two that would last a lifetime. 
23. We are all a sum of our experiences. Once in a while switch your lens for better understanding of the situation, get out of the bottle that you are in. Get a fresh perspective on things. 
24. Enjoy life for all the unique possibilities it has to offer! Its never too late to start a new hobby or pursue a new dream.
25. Be Creative. We all have an obligation to leave this life more beautiful and pleasant than we found it. Make an impact. 

...And the lessons continue.