Tagged - Top Ten Rules for Life ... and a PS

Thanks, Ruth, for tagging me. What a difficult task this is turning out to be. I'm sure I'll remember the most important one after I've listed 10 others!

So, in no particular order, here they are:

1. Take the opportunity of a lifetime in the lifetime of the opportunity (Dad's maxim, which I'm sure I've mentioned endless times before)
2. Look after no 1 (oh, if only I could) and take time out to think/plan/switch off
3. Never play to win (then with luck you will)!
4. Never mention the 'D'(iet) word
5. Think positive/be optimistic/enjoy life. Don't be negative/pessimistic/miserable
6. Never start a 5-minute job if you only have 5 minutes to spare (you know they always take at least half a day to complete!)
7. Rise above it (whatever 'it' may be)
8. Don't waste time worrying about what might happen (there'll be time enough to worry when it does)
9. Always keep an eye on the cars ahead, not just the one you're following
10. Remember it costs nothing to say 'please' and 'thank you'

Not as difficult as I thought. Nothing profound but maybe some food for thought.

This is my somewhat tongue-in-cheek analysis of them: no 1 worked; no 2 would be nice; no 3 - Mum always won games when I was a child by this method (still don't know how she managed it); diet? what diet?; I'm generally optimistic and like to think the best of people (until they let themselves down); I work best under pressure so no 6 is for you rather than me; I've risen above so many undercurrents I'll soon be walking on water; no 8 is true and it really is such a waste of time worrying, especially when you find 'it' doesn't happen and all the worrying was unnecessary; no 9 is just sensible; no 10 would make the world a much nicer place!


I wonder if these might do as my New Year's Resolutions. They should be easier to keep than the sort I normally make!

Update: I knew I'd think of another one!

1. Resort to resources!

If it doesn't make sense, then I'll explain! Remember Bob-a-Job? Does it still happen? Well, one Bob-a-Job week in the late 1950s/early 60s a young Cub Scout knocked on our door. Mum gave him the job of cleaning our garage doors (wooden ones with panes of glass at the top). I think it was just a case of sweeping the dust off them rather than a full 'wash and brush up' (and payment was a 'bob' , slang for a shilling or, in today's market a mere 5p). Anyway, he was only a small chap, and when Mum went out to see how he was getting on he said that because he was too short to reach the top of the doors he had 'resorted to resources' and found something in the garage to stand on so that he could do the job properly. We've never forgotten this and from time to time when Mum or I have struggled to do something, one or other of us has said 'we'll just have to resort to resources' . So, the moral of the story is ... use whatever is available to you to get the job done; make the most of what life has given you; you can still do a good job, even if you haven't got what you think is the necessary tool for the purpose.

I realise I should have tagged others. I know you are all longing to do this one, so rather than name individuals I shall leave this open to anyone who'd like to give it a try. Just leave me a message so I can pop over and see what your rules for life are!