Lessons Learned

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Some of us on this forum are older and hopefully wiser. What lessons have you learned that you would like to share?

I'll start.

Save your money. For real. It's hard being older and wondering if you'll be able to pay for a roof over your head. If you're a woman, you never know if you'll be a widow one day or single for other reasons. Take online classes or start a business so that you will not be totally dependent on another person.
 
If you are young, set your sights on becoming self-employed by the time you turn 50. Right around this time. you will likely be "aged-out" of the workforce and will be unemployable. You will likely be miserable in that corporate job you are finding yourself stuck in so be sure to have a good nest egg in order to tell the corporate shills where to stick it when the time comes!
 
"Some of us on this forum are older and hopefully wiser. What lessons have you learned that you would like to share?"


1. Don't center your life around your job - they will replace you tomorrow and not remember you the next.
2. Work for a good credit and keep it.
3. Be honest. That way, you'll never have to remember what you said and to whom.
4. Try to buy only what you have cash for. Don't run balances on cards. If you see something you would like to have and if you have the cash to pay for it, still don't buy it. Go home. Tomorrow, if you still want it, and it's not just an impulse and you are willing to lower your cash reserve, it will still be there and you can get it, then. If you are one that has excessive cash, when it's time to spend, I would consider spending it on travel and experiences which will forever be in your memory rather than on things which end up in the trash or storage. (just my two cents)
5. When you get upset, excuse yourself, calm down and then your reaction will come from a wiser place.
 
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Go outside for a walk every day. It’s not just good for your physical health, but also your mental health and spiritual health. (If you can get your spouse and children/grandchildren to join, then even better. It’s also great exercise for a dog, if you own one.)

About twenty years ago I met a man who walks an hour a day and never misses. He got me in the habit and I’ve been doing daily walks for the past two decades. If it’s raining, then I’ll do my walks on a treadmill, otherwise I do them outside. I always aim for an hour, but if life gets busy, I’ll still do at least 30 minutes.
 
Go outside for a walk every day. It’s not just good for your physical health, but also your mental health and spiritual health. (If you can get your spouse and children/grandchildren to join, then even better. It’s also great exercise for a dog, if you own one.)

About twenty years ago I met a man who walks an hour a day and never misses. He got me in the habit and I’ve been doing daily walks for the past two decades. If it’s raining, then I’ll do my walks on a treadmill, otherwise I do them outside. I always aim for an hour, but if life gets busy, I’ll still do at least 30 minutes.



Dr Huk&Duck,

When I first moved to Atlanta, I had intended to live in Midtown or Buckhead UNTIL I got here and saw the traffic. I found a place just 3 blocks from my job. And all these years, I have walked both to and from work. It's great exercise.
 
Pray every day... several times a day. Memorize Scripture, especially ones that are pertinent to temptations you experience. Take time to laugh AT yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously all of the time. Breathe deeply. Love deeply your spouse, children, and parents if they're still alive. Keep your dealings pure, and don't wish evil to others. Remember that Christ shed His blood for all, and that they may be under conviction. Just a few thoughts from an old curmudgeon.
 
Go outside for a walk every day.

A doctor examined a patient in his 70s and he said, "You are in remarkably good shape -what is your secret of good health?" The old man replied, "When I and my wife got married, we agreed that any time we got into an argument, I would have to leave the house and go walking outside until I cooled off and was ready to see reason. Since that time, I have always lived pretty much an outdoor life."
 
Grace. It's being shown to me; I need to show it to others.

Both in ministry and vocation, I need to work with whoever is there. Everyone has their quirks, even me. I am NOT entitled to expressing my frustration just because someone else has a different viewpoint. The mission of the job at hand is far more important than how I feel about others.

Be an example: strive to be edifying to all.
 
I've always had a cushion in my account but with a tire that needed to be done and etc. My cushion is disappearing I work full time. I have no debt just my monthly bills. This has been a roller coaster of a month. I'm not a spender so I'm by myself my roommate situation fell through . I'm always looking at ways to live....
 
Grace. It's being shown to me; I need to show it to others.

Both in ministry and vocation, I need to work with whoever is there. Everyone has their quirks, even me. I am NOT entitled to expressing my frustration just because someone else has a different viewpoint. The mission of the job at hand is far more important than how I feel about others.

Be an example: strive to be edifying to all.
I'm still working on that one. I know it's no excuse, but chronic illness does take a toll on my usual sunny disposition, especially when I am online. Thanks for the words of encouragement to us all. 🤠
 
abcaines' post reminded me of this story from about 20 years ago, one that really hit me between the eyes and helped me to grow...

I was soulwinning one day in a neighborhood of the place where I grew up, a respectable working-class section of town. I was growing frustrated with the fact that I was not able to get anybody to answer the door, hadn't talked to anybody about Jesus for about a dozen doors that I had knocked.

So as I was walking to the next door I saw two women get out of a car nearby. They were decently dressed, middle age, and fit what I thought was a stereotypical look of lesbians, so I thought, yeah, I'm going to get to talk to a lost person about the Lord. I approached them and began my usual introduction of who I was and why I was interrupting their day but before I could get finished they said "oh it's wonderful that you're out here telling people about Jesus, we're from such-and-such church".

The church that they mentioned was not a Baptist Church, but it was a Evangelical conservative bible-believing church, one that they would not be comfortable in if they were practicing lesbians. It dawned on me that I had made some assumptions that were not warranted, and my desire to share the gospel was tainted by an attitude that was too presumptive and at its core judgmental, perhaps lacking the proper, as abcaines said, measured with grace.

That lesson on humility from the book of Samuel where David was but a little boy amongst many seemingly able-bodied men came to mind. Man looks on the outer appearance but God looks on the heart.
 
First, when you are young or have young kids, tell them to save their money for a rainy day. Other then Christmas or one's birthday, do not buy the gifts/toys for the rest of the year. Have them save their money and buy it if that is really what he or she wants. Do not live above your means. Just because their friends do, they cannot, unless they want to work and pay for what they want. A pre 18 yrs old should never have a credit card. Once they get to 18, stress to him or her, with a credit card, purchases have to be paid off in 30 days, if not then he or she does not need that purchase, until they save up for it. Oh by the way have I mentioned about pre 18 needing a cell or smart phone? You can guess what I think.
 
abcaines' post reminded me of this story from about 20 years ago, one that really hit me between the eyes and helped me to grow...

I was soulwinning one day in a neighborhood of the place where I grew up, a respectable working-class section of town. I was growing frustrated with the fact that I was not able to get anybody to answer the door, hadn't talked to anybody about Jesus for about a dozen doors that I had knocked.

So as I was walking to the next door I saw two women get out of a car nearby. They were decently dressed, middle age, and fit what I thought was a stereotypical look of lesbians, so I thought, yeah, I'm going to get to talk to a lost person about the Lord. I approached them and began my usual introduction of who I was and why I was interrupting their day but before I could get finished they said "oh it's wonderful that you're out here telling people about Jesus, we're from such-and-such church".

The church that they mentioned was not a Baptist Church, but it was a Evangelical conservative bible-believing church, one that they would not be comfortable in if they were practicing lesbians. It dawned on me that I had made some assumptions that were not warranted, and my desire to share the gospel was tainted by an attitude that was too presumptive and at its core judgmental, perhaps lacking the proper, as abcaines said, measured with grace.

That lesson on humility from the book of Samuel where David was but a little boy amongst many seemingly able-bodied men came to mind. Man looks on the outer appearance but God looks on the heart.
What is so great about this testimony is how graciously God corrected you.
 
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