GREATEST ADVICE

by Rick Warren -- Purpose Driven Life

Don't date because you are desperate.Don't marry because you are miserable.Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior. Don't philanderbecause you think you are irresistible.Don't associate with people you can't trust.

Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.Don't dictate because you are smarter.Don't demand because you are stronger. Don't sleep around because you think you are oldenough and know better.Don't hurt your kids because loving them isharder. Don't sell yourself,your family, or your ideals.

Don't stagnate.!Don't regress. Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anythingor anyone back. Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right. Don't throw your life awayon absolutely Mr Wrong because your biologicalclock is ticking. Learn a new skill.Find a new friend.Start a new career.Sometimes, there is no race to be won.Only a price to be paid for some of life's morehasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.Don't bring another life into this world for allthe wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be. Simplify yourlife. Take away the clutter. Get rid ofdestructive elements: abusive friends, nastyhabits, and dangerous liaisons. Don't abandon yourresponsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought andfeeling for your family. Betrue to yourself. Don't commit when you are notready. Don't keep otherswaiting needlessly.Go on that trip. Don't postpone it. Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.Love Deeply.Walk barefoot.Dance with wild abandon.Cry at the movies.Take care of yourself.

Don't wait for someone to take care of you. You light up your life. Youdrive yourself to your destination. No onecompletes you - except YOU.It is true that life does not get easier with age.It only gets more challenging.Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.Pursue your passions.Live your dreams.Don't lose faith in your God.Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why thegreatest gift you can give someone is your time.

Relationships take time and effort, and the bestway to spell love is T-I-M-E because the essence of love is not what we think or do or provide forothers, but how much we give of ourselves.