What's your greatest life lesson?

[fantasydreamer]

What are the lessons you learned in life?
What are the things you wish you knew beforehand?
What learnings would you want to pass to your children in the future?
Could be about any aspect of life

[FlabRoshi]

It will never finally be over, but it is possible to become intimately at ease with being.

Also, "sit down and shut up" - one of my zen teachers.

[Mikahcho]

To never emotionally invest in anyone, no matter how certain you are it will pay off in the end.

[FlabRoshi]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

To never emotionally invest in anyone, no matter how certain you are it will pay off in the end.

Really?

Emotionally investing in others is inevitable and natural, and so is the suffering that comes with it.

But what would life be if you never cared about anyone? Our relationships and our desires for relationships, and our annoyance with relationships, are all part of the richness of life.

[Mikahcho]

Originally Posted by FlabRoshi

Really?

Emotionally investing in others is inevitable and natural, and so is the suffering that comes with it.

But what would life be if you never cared about anyone? Our relationships and our desires for relationships, and our annoyance with relationships, are all part of the richness of life.

Mmm, perhaps I should rephrase then. I've learnt to hold onto my emotional energy, when the opportunity to invest arises, in most cases. I'll invest enough to enable typical social interactions and some very basic relationships, but most often I'll hold myself back from forming any relationship beyond acquaintanceship. At the best of types, I'll allow myself to have few friends.

There's only ever been one person who I've been able to trust myself with. Beyond him, I'm careful.

I hope I'm not being too cryptic.

[fantasydreamer]

Originally Posted by FlabRoshi

It will never finally be over, but it is possible to become intimately at ease with being.

Also, "sit down and shut up" - one of my zen teachers.

What did he mean by sit down and shut up?

[FlabRoshi]

Originally Posted by fantasydreamer

What did he mean by sit down and shut up?

zazen

[MovingForward]

Right now I am having a hard time remembering how to have fun. Fun should not be overlooked for more serious matters too often, but don't be too silly.

[ArielX]

Mmmm. I think I'm going to tackle your first question, because I like it allot

Two important lessons Ive learned in life, (so far, Ive only lived 18 years hahahah) is first and foremost, it is OK to be different. It is OK to be who you are. You do not need to change any aspect of yourself to fit in with a group of people or fit in with society. You will find your way in life being exactly as you were made out to be.

Another lesson Ive learned is to let no one tell you that you can't do something. To many times in my life I was put down. "Oh Ariel, you can't do this because you are to shy". I was even told I wasn't going to get into college because I got a poor grade in a class my junior year of high school. But you know what, I got into college (and I pretty good college I think!). So, yeah, don't let anyone tell you you can't do something...because heck you can!!