The Life Lesson Book

On a recent trip to Florida with my friend Sarah, I remarked offhandedly that I needed a life lesson book. One where I could write down stuff I learned with the hopes I would never do it again.

Lying on the beach next to my friend with the lobster-like legs, I commented that my first entry would without a doubt be always wear sunscreen.

Now, I've been keeping this life lesson book mentally for years now. I know you have one too. Anyone who has ever suffered a hangover to the Nth degree knows what a mental life lesson book might be like.

About a week ago, after a particularly heinous day in the life of a fundraiser, I arrived home to a package on the counter. My, how I do love surprises, especially ones that come in the mail. Hot dog.

I poured a glass of vino, opened the envelope, and discovered a white journal bearing a quote from Thoreau. You know, the famous one. The famous quote, not the author. Although he is most certainly famous as well. But that's not the point of this story.

Inside was a note from Sarah: "Now you can write down all those life lessons!" She remembered! Good golly, oh molly. Primed with the onset of an after-work-wine-buzz, I wrote.

And I wrote.
And there were so many life lessons that began pouring out.
And I began to think that life was really one big lesson. There was so much to say.
(I seem to recall Bill Cosby creating a similar book. There go my publishing ambitions. Rats.)

I love my new book and it's lying on the dresser, just waiting for a life lesson to strike.

It's important to remember that no life lesson is too small.

And it's also important to remember that no matter how many times you write your lessons down, there are many things in the life lesson book that you are going to keep doing over, and over, and over again. Now Rose, there you go again, you know that red wine and margaritas do not make for a morning-after of happiness and glee.

What might your life lessons look like?