50 Things I Have Learned in (Almost) 50 Years

2. We can't let other people's opinions of us determine our own self-worth.

3. The road goes both ways.

4. Children would rather be good than bad, but they'll be bad if it's the only way they can get attention.

5. Don't judge a family by the exterior of their house, but by the warmth within.

6. Brush your teeth before dressing if you don't want to go to work with toothpaste on your sleeves.

7. Long hair may be sexy, but short hair is easier to take care of.

8. Giving things away to those who can use them is more rewarding than selling them.

9. Men: You can't live with them, and you can't live with them.

10. You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your relatives.

11. Doing what you love brings the most rewards, and they're not necessarily financial.

12. Favors are best done in anonymity.

13. Stepchildren can be a pain in the posterior, but can become your closest friends.

14. Grandchildren are a blessing, no matter how they arrive.

15. Your dog will sympathize with you when no one else will.

16. Don't loan money to friends or family that you can't afford to give to them.

17. One true friend is all we need.

18. The IRS will catch up with you eventually.

19. God loves us exactly as we are. But that doesn't mean He's not disappointed with our behavior on occasion.

20. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

21. Bathing dogs is a chore, but they sure smell a lot better afterwards!

22. Most people can't read your mind; you have to tell them what's on it.

23. It's impossible to throw children's artwork away.

24. Putting a new coat of paint on your car won't make it run any better.

25. Trust people until they show you they can't be trusted.

26. If you keep your mouth shut, you can't get your foot in it.

27. There's no point in arguing with some people.

28. Drivers in other cars can see you picking your nose at the red light.

29. Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

30. Don't give advice unless it's asked for.

31. When God gives you a job to do, He also gives you the strength you need to do it.

32. You can scare away a bear by waving your arms and yelling at him. But if he's already got your picnic basket, let him have it.

33. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself.

34. Practice what you preach. People learn more about us from our behavior than our speech.

35. Getting married is easy; staying married is hard.

36. Laugh at your own faults. It will throw of your critics.

37. As soon as you sit down with a cup of coffee, the dog will want to go out.

38. Never be too proud to admit when you are wrong.

39. Don't let the shoe salesman convince you the shoes fit properly when you don't think so.

40. We'd all like to have the chance to prove that money won't make us happy.

41. When you finally throw something away, you'll need it a month later.

42. A happy marriage is one in which each partner thinks they got a better partner than they deserved.

43. We're all about as happy as we make up our minds to be.

44. Kind words go a lot further than harsh ones when you're trying to get what you want.

45. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, even if they don't agree with yours.

46. Be careful who you talk about in public in a small town. There may be a relative close by.

47. If you don't have respect for yourself, no one else will respect you either.

48. Education is never wasted.

49. It's as important to be a good winner as it is to be a good loser.

50. Complain only when it really matters.