Words of Wisdom from The Bag Lady Papers

"Experience - good and bad, exciting and boring, tragic and absurd - make up life. Not to have lived to the fullest is the saddest, most irresponsible life I can think of." - Alexandra Penney

The library has been a great friend to me these past two years. It's where I discover new books, movies, TV shows, magazines, and music all for free! Go visit your local library you'll never know what you'll find!

Picked up the book The Bag Lady Papers by Alexandra Penney. In this book she writes about how she lost everything she worked hard for and how she lost her money and life savings to Bernie Madoff. I'm sharing some of her words of wisdom from her book that I really like, and hope you will too.

If your worst fears happen, you live through them. They can be as bad as you imagined them but somehow you manage.

You will surprise yourself at how well you cope. You have enormous resources you don't know about.

You are in control until you have no mind left.

When you're flooded with anxiety or panic, think - don't feel.

There is such a word as "no." Use it to protect yourself.

Indulge your crazy ideas - just think a bit about the consequences first.

You don't have to love your parents. Honor and respect the institution of parenthood, and you will feel no guilt.

There is no such thing a human worthlessness. Even the MF must have some redeeming quality, although I admit I doubt it.

People will always surprise you with their generosity or their nastiness.

You're sunk if you lose your sensed of humor.

Ask for what you want even if you think you won't get it. You'll be surprised at the response sixty percent of the time.

It's okay to feel pity for yourself - for a short while.

Ranting out loud can make you feel quite a bit better.

Stop negative thinking any way you can. It takes discipline but you can do it.

Fear has two faces: the good side motivates you, the bad side paralyzes you.

When you have your first sip of coffee in the morning, stop for a full ten seconds and taste how good it is.

Decide on a short-term goal and a long-term goal and give them your very best shot.

Don't beat yourself up about a decision: it was right at the time you made it.

If you can't made a decision, you can always decide not to decide.

You have a self. Know its strengths and weaknesses.

Fear can make you tougher and stronger.

Evil exists.

Generosity can trump almost anything.

Expect the unexpected, but there is no way to prepare for it.

Change is inevitable but it's an adventure.

Loss happens. Get used to it.

Be a fighter; life's no fun if you're not.

Read or heard any good words of wisdom lately?