Life Lessons I Hope To Pass On To My kids - Part V

1. Have faith that people can be good and do the right thing and give people the benefit of the doubt. Yes, people will make mistakes, but you will be much happier if you decide to be positive about a negative situation.
2. Time can't be taken back. Take the time to appreciate the people you love EVERY DAY.
3. Before you tie the knot, sit down and exchange a credit history with your partner. That way, you're both on equal footing.
4. Don't spend money you haven't earned yet. Show you have some self-control. Demonstrate that you know how to prioritize. Live within your means.
5. Your income and your stuff don't say jack about you. My generation has bought into the branding tomfoolery like no generation before. If you define yourself by the labels you wear, by the model of the car you drive or the amount of money you make, you're walking in the wrong footsteps.Your actions define who you are.
6. How much you make doesn't matter as much as what you do with your income. Sure, you may not make bundles of money, but if you can live a worthwhile life and make your money do what you need it to do, you're way smarter than the Ritchie Rich with the flashy lifestyle and debt-rot at the root of his financial foundation. Live a real life and keep track of every penny.
7. Watch who you choose for your peer group. Once upon a time we measured ourselves against our family, friends and neighbours. (Hey, you can say we shouldn't measure ourselves against anyone, but that's just not reality!) My generation decided to measure how we're doing against the people we see on TV and in magazines. If there were no décor-porn, we'd all feel a little less like our homes constantly need upgrading. You don't need granite counter-tops to turn out healthy and delicious meals for the family. Build a life of substance and focus on what's really important: stability, happiness and a sense of belonging.
8. If you own your own appliances and are moving out of province and you plan to sell said appliances so you don't have to lug them around - wait until the very last minute that you can to let them go. It suck to sell them early... a month and a half early. Especially if you are using cloth diapers. Make sure you have good friends that you can depend on for an awesome visit and who don't mind sharing their machines. Also, stock up on quarters so you can go down to the laundromat if needed.
9. Don't imagine you can change a man - unless he's in diapers.
10. What do you do if your boyfriend walks-out? You shut the door.
11. Remember a sense of humor does not mean that you tell him jokes, it means that you laugh at his.