It’s been a while since I’ve last updated and much has happened. It’ll take me some time to try and get back into the swing of writing as I’ve been “taking a break” on life in order to reorient myself back into it. It’s 11:30am in Cairo and I’ve just arrived at work at AUC in Tagamo3 to a very pleasant surprise. We’re doing this really fun game at work. We each drew names from a bag and the goal of the game is to make our fellow colleague feel appreciated and to brighten up their day. At the end of the semester we’ll figure out who our “secret Santa” is so to speak. Since we’ve been on Spring Break I haven’t checked my envelop – and quite frankly I totally forgot I had an envelop (my head has been wrapped up and hyped up about the new electric oven…). I received quite a few things but I am going to copy one of them here as it really sums up what I feel like I have learned and realized since my trip to India and honestly what I am still learning and realizing everyday. For whoever is reading, I hope you find it as refreshing and humbling as I have in my journey thus far in life. If not, hopefully it will at least bring you a smile as it has for me.

 

Make your life better in 30 days

  1. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  2. Don’t have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
  3. Don’t overdo; keep your limits.
  4. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
  5. Don’t waste your previous energy on gossip.
  6. Dream more while you are awake.
  7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
  9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
  10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
  11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
  13. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
  14. Smile and laugh more.
  15. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  16. Call your family often.
  17. Each day give something good to others.
  18. Forgive everyone for everything.
  19. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
  20. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
  21. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  22. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
  23. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
  24. GOD heals everything.
  25. Do the right things.
  26. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  27. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  28. The best is yet to come.
  29. Get ride of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
  30. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
    While you practice those steps, share them with other people…
    Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you.