52 Things I Hope I’ve Learned
Today is birthday and I’m 52, although I still feel about 22 thank God! So to enjoy the day here are 52 things that I’m thank
- Jesus is the only answer to life and the only One who makes life make sense.
- Being married 30+ years now to Lisa Landreth Vaughn is better than I could have ever imagined, and the best accomplishment of my life.
- Sarah Beth, Molly, and Luke bring joy and depth to life that I’d never known, and reveals to me even more how ‘MUCH MORE’ our Heavenly Father loves us.
- Even at 52 LIFE IS SHORT! FAST! Where did it go?
- Thankful I was born when I was and grew up when I did! I didn’t appreciate it when I was younger but have realized that possibly my Generation was the last generation before so much change!
- Teenagers today will NEVER know the joy of wasting gas and time… CRUISING! In High School every Friday & Saturday Night on Franklin Boulevard.
- Thankful my parents raised me with a healthy respect for my Elders, and a greater respect for the punishment I’d receive when I stepped out of line.
- The last time I was ever spanked (by my Dad, and the closest thing to polio I’ve experienced) was at age 9… and a decision was made to never have that happen again.
- Decisions and the power of free will are the second greatest gift God has given man! The first is His love!
- People today walk in an offended, entitled sense and are hurt when you disagree with them. I miss my Talk Radio Show in the 90’s where the ground rules were we disagreed like dogs and cats, but went to lunch or dinner after the show because we truly respected and cared for each other as individuals.
- Elwood P. Down from the movie, Harvey, has it right: ‘It’s better to be oh so gentle, than oh so smart.’
- Everyone should jump out of a plane once, and that by choice with a parachute.
- The Internet is the greatest game changing invention in the history of man, and sadly most people are too immature to use it for greatness and positive change.
- The loudest person in the room, on the stage, or in the arena usually sucks the attention out of the room, but rarely has the wisest of words to fill people’s lives.
- Commitment is much more important in life than people give credit for! Most overnight successes take a lifetime!
- Coffee is the elixir of heaven!
- I do my best thinking and sometimes praying while driving – it’s the rare time when I’m alone and my thoughts are at peace.
- Patience is a virtue that everyone needs to value.
- Be early for everything! If children are involved and young, and sometimes when they are older, leave a day early!
- Only watch and hear things that add to your life!
- NEVER hang out with people who are going no where… because your associations will determine your destination.
- Chocolate is the only flavor of ice-cream that should be made!
- One of the greatest joys in life is to make people laugh… and my greatest joy is make Lisa Vaughn laugh!
- Parents aren’t called to be their children’s friend… but their parent. It’s obvious the parents that know this and the ones who don’t by the behavior of the child.
- Hard work pays off, and sometimes luck plays a part, but lucky happen stances never happen to the sluggard who never works.
- Showing up sometimes is half the battle – my college inter-varsity football team (The Killer Coulombs) was 5-0 because the other teams never showed up… and when the jocks did, they were too drunk to play, so us geeks beat them too!
- The older I get the less I care about what others think… and this isn’t always a good thing!
- Life is much more enjoyable when you follow the dreams of your heart instead of the pounding of the masses and the desire to fit in.
- Fast cars are still fun even at 52!
- When you are in a debate NEVER SHUT UP! The person who controls the atmosphere usually wins the debate, but can lose friends and some battles aren’t worth winning.
- Strangely the less you care about what people like the more people like you.
- Most people don’t react to what is said to them, but to the condition of their heart… This I forget too often.
- Few people in life truly know what they believe and why – they parrot tradition, family, and the voices around them.
- Love, faith, loyalty, and honor are the most valuable and priceless commodities in life and we should require it from ourselves more than those around us.
- People are fickle – the same people that yelled Hosanna to Jesus are the same ones who yelled ‘Give us Barabas’ five days later.
- There is no such thing as drinking coffee too late.
- Not all so called vices are bad, especially if it makes enduring irksome people.
- Never let anything control your life – especially anger!
- It’s not gambling when I know I can make it happen – it is gambling when I put my trust into something that is unproven.
- Children learn what they live, and even those that aren’t in my family deserve to see me and others live righteous lives that are worthy of the people around us.
- Money is neither bad nor good, but an indication of what’s in the heart of someone.
- There is tremendous power in a hand written note – and even more so when you seal it with wax.
- Fountain pens are old and archaic, but cause me to take my time when I write.
- The Three Stooges are a gift to humanity!
- Golf, archery, and any other sports where it is you against yourself are the purest of sports.
- It’s better to preach and live by the principles of the Word of God even if you never see results than to change your convictions because of circumstances of people – circumstances change all the time as well as people (see #35), stick to the proven principles that don’t change.
- Saying, “I’m sorry,” is always appropriate, and even more so when you are wrong.
- You can learn as much from the sources you disagree with as the ones you agree with, if you are open to truth and learning. If you aren’t you won’t learn anything at anytime.
- Literacy and the ability to read is a gift that should be treasured, nourished, and shared with everyone. The power of a book to take you somewhere else, or to teach you something opens up the world of knowledge that is only available when you have the ability to read.
- Decaf Coffee is an abomination of the devil.
- It’s always a good day when you wake up!
- Lisa Landreth Vaughn (my wife of 30+ years) is the best woman I’ve ever known, and the greatest gift to my life.