Rules to Live By

Notes to Myself

Taking a page from Marcus Aurelius’ Mediations, I sat down and wrote the following in my journal this morning.

• 1.Stay True to Your Values.
  Let your personal ethics guide your actions.
  

• Trust Your Instincts, not Your Anxiety.

  Fear is real, but it is seldom based on fact. Recognize anxiety for what it – a distortion of reality. Look past your anxiety to see the real situation. Only then should you listen to the guide in your head.
  

• Be Kind and Generous. Be Humble and Grateful.
  Be a positive force in the world. Life other’s up. Look at both sides. Love your neighbor and your enemy. In the end, what matters is not what you accomplished, but the energy you put into the world.
  

• Practice Self-compassion.
  Be kind to yourself. Exercise. Eat right. Set boundaries. Forgive yourself for your mistakes – because you will make a lot of them.
  

• Remember that the World is Bigger than You.
  As you grow older, and your circle shrinks, don’t become so self-involved that you develop blinders. Focus outward, not inward.
  

• Honor Your Talent.
  The abilities you have are gifts. Don’t take them for granted or let them wither from disuse.
  

• Never Stop Growing.
  There is a lot to learn in the world. Exercise your brain along with your body. Soak up all the knowledge you can. Expand your mind. Broaden it. Experiment and try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail and learn from your mistakes.
  

• Leave the World Better Off Than When You Found It.
  Treat the people, land, and living creatures around you with respect.
  

• Remember that You Are Enough.
  You are exactly who and where you’re supposed to be. Embrace the person you are at this moment. Don’t bemoan your age or your wrinkles. Forgive your foibles. Celebrate everything you’ve achieved so far in your life and don’t let anyone make you feel insignificant.

Today in History

September 15, 1914 – Allied and German forces began digging trenches on the Western Front in World War 1. By 1918, the trenches would stretch from the coast of Belgium through France.

September 15, 1963 – Addie Mae Collins (14), Cynthia Wesley (14), Carole Robertson (14) and Carol Denise McNair (11) were killed when a bomb goes off during Sunday services in Birmingham, Alabama. Four Klu Klux Klan members were identified as the murderers. It would take 59 years before the families saw a guilty verdict.

What I’m Reading

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley. A story of lost love, justice and betrayal set in 18^th century Scotland.

What I’m Working On

First Dates are Fatal, a Sadie McIntyre Short.  This Sadie McIntyre novella is scheduled for late 2023. Who shot real estate developer Ben Cartwright in the back? Was it the comely young widow? The vengeful ex-wife? Or someone else? To find the killer, Sadie, along with sexy detective Dan Bartlett and her best friend, Rob Carmichael, must wade through a mess of family secrets.

Finally…
I’d like to wish my Jewish friends and family a sweet and good new year.