45 Lessons from 45 Years // Mnote 9.2.22

I turned 45 years old yesterday, and I am grateful for all the notes and messages. It feels good. I thought I would share 45 lessons I’ve learned, in no particular order.
 
1.     Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. (O. Wilde)
2.     Relationships of any kind require work. Do the work. It is worth it.
3.     Make a day of rest a weekly rhythm. It is a game changer.
4.     Run towards things, not away from things.
5.     Hard conversations are always worth it.
6.     Create a life you don’t want to escape from.
7.     Get comfortable with who you are, even the parts you wish were different. Invite your whole self to the table every day.
8.     Your coworkers matter more than the job. Get great coworkers, then stay with them.
9.     New purchases have a short shelf-life. Use your money wisely.
10.  What you say no to is as important as what you say yes to.
11.  Stay teachable, always have a posture of learning, never believe you are the smartest one in the room.
12.  The behavior of other people isn’t about you. It is about them.
13.  Serving others is a powerful way to get outside your own head.
14.  Our culture and world are anxious. If you experience anxiety and depression, you aren’t weird. You are normal.
15.  Your job will take but rarely give. Act accordingly.
16.  When you have an opportunity to take a calculated risk, take it.
17.  Don’t ever compromise your integrity in little things and you will avoid compromising it in big things.
18.  Listen to the people who love you and love God.
19.  In most cases, your parents have your best interest in mind.
20.  In parenting, eventually it is better to teach kids how to make good decisions instead of preventing them from making bad decisions.
21.  Be a creator; not a critic.
22.  Getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
23.  Write handwritten notes to people who make a difference in your life.
24.  Everyone is busy. Stop saying this or using it as an excuse.
25.  Kids remember the everyday stuff much more than the big stuff.
26.  Faith isn’t always easy, and certain seasons require larger investments.
27.  Happiness isn’t about money, achievement, or experiences. It is about healthy relationships. Period.
28.  Find and hang out with people further along a road that you want to travel.
29.  In exercise or life, a bad workout is better than no workout at all.
30.  There are just as many numbers between 0 and 1 as between 0 and 1000. Don’t neglect the possibilities right where you are.
31.  Always reserve the right to disappoint people. Trying to please everyone all the time is no way to live.
32.  If you are a leader, your primary job is to be the least anxious person in the room. True at work or at home.
33.  The grass isn’t greener on the other side.
34.  Sometimes you must break up with friends. And always be open to new ones.
35.  You always have a choice. Only you are responsible for your life.
36.  Celebrate the accomplishments and successes of friends and peers.  
37.  Today is always the perfect day to begin a new habit.
38.  The best way to change a family, organization, or system is to change the way you act in it.
39.  Listen to the experiences of others. They see something you can’t see.
40.  If you mess up, say you are sorry. It is so much easier that way.
41.  Invest in others when possible.
42.  Contribute slightly more than you think you can to your retirement account.
43.  God gives us more than we can handle. You need other people.
44.  Gratitude is like penicillin for life. It cures a host of problems.
45.  God is with you. There are people in your corner. Stay connected to them.
 
I love being your pastor. Thank you for the ways you support me and The Gathering. I can’t wait to see what God will do in your life and in our church in the months ahead.
 
Peace,
 Matt
 
P.S. I want to celebrate the BIG NEWS that because The Gathering Webster site continues to grow, it is time to launch another worship service. Beginning Oct. 2, our Webster site will have two worship services, at 9:30 and 11am.