Essay shares rules for being human

Dear Annie: Years ago, Ann Landers had a column about hate. I’m sorry to say I lost the paper. It was about how when you hate other people, it’s you hating yourself. I hope you can find the column.

C.L.L., Canfield, Ohio

Dear C.L.L.: I believe you’re referring to “Rules for Being Human,” a piece of unknown origin that Ann Landers printed several times. Rules for Being Human You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for as long as you live. How you take care of it or fail to take care of it can make an enormous difference in the quality of your life.

You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time school called Life. Each day, you will be presented with opportunities to learn what you need to know. The lessons presented are often different from those you THINK you need.

There are no mistakes — only lessons.

A lesson is repeated until it is learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it (as evidenced by a change in your attitude and behavior), then you can go on to the next lesson.

Learning lessons does not end. There is no stage of life that does not contain some lessons. As long as you live, there will be something more to learn.

“There” is no better than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here,” you will obtain another “there” that will again look better than your “here.” Don’t be fooled by believing that the unattainable is better than what you have.

Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. When tempted to criticize others, ask yourself why you feel so strongly.

The answers are within you. The solutions to all of life’s problems are within your grasp. All you need to do is ask, look, listen and trust.

You will forget all this. Unless you consistently stay focused on the goals you have set for yourself, everything you’ve just read won’t mean a thing.

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