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Regina Brett是美國俄亥俄州克里夫蘭最大報紙THE PLAIN DEALER的專欄作家，她曾經為了頌讚年華漸長，寫了「來自生活的45個心得」，廣受矚目並流傳，到2006年Regina快五十歲時她又增寫了5則。

"為了慶祝變得更老了, 我曾經寫下人生教我的45個功課. 這是我寫過最叫座的專欄."

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
人生是不公平的，但還是好得很.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
懷疑的時候何妨為未來踏出一小步.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
人生太短，短到來不及浪費時間去恨任何一個人.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
不要那麼嚴肅對待自己，沒有人會這樣對你的.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
每個月要付清你的信用卡.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
你不需要每一次都吵贏，同意你所不同意的.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
找人一起哭，它比獨自啜泣更加療癒
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
對上帝生氣沒有關係，祂受得了.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
退休存款要從你第一次領薪水條開始.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
提到巧克力，抗拒它是徒然的.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
要和你的過去和解，這樣它不會搞砸你的當下
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
讓你的孩子看到你在哭沒有關係
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
別拿自己的人生和他人做比較，你根本不清楚別人的經歷是怎麼一回事
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
如果一段親密關係需要偷偷摸摸，你根本就不應該涉入.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
一眨眼的功夫什麼都會變，但是別擔心，上帝從來不眨眼.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
短促的人生不夠用在冗長的哀悼，要忙著過活，或忙著就死
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
若是今天你堅定不移，你就能渡過一切
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
作家寫作，如果想成為作家就寫吧
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
重拾快樂童年永不嫌晚，但這第二次只能靠你不能靠別人.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
遇到你生命所愛來臨時，不要把「不」作為答案
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
點上蠟燭，用好的床單，穿上炫麗的內衣，不要在特殊時刻才用，今天就是特別的一天.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
準備要過於周全，然後隨遇而安.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
現在就隨興搞怪，不需要等上了年紀了才穿上紫紅袍(註)
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
最重要的性器官是腦袋.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
除你之外沒人能主宰你的快樂.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
把所謂的不幸用"五年後這還重要嗎?"這一句話框起來
27. Always choose life.
永遠選擇生活
28. Forgive everyone everything.
原諒每一個人每一件事.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
別人怎麼看你不干你的事.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
時間會癒合幾乎每一件事，多給時間一些時間.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
無論情況多好或多壞，它都會變的.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
生病的時候你的工作不會照顧你，而你的朋友會。要保持聯絡.
33. Believe in miracles.
相信奇蹟.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
上帝愛你是因為祂就是這樣，不是因為你做了什麼或是沒做什麼.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
沒能打敗你的確實會讓你更堅強.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
變老就等於戰勝了另一種選項 - 死得早.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
你的孩子只有一個童年，讓這值得回憶
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
要讀聖經中的詩篇，其中蘊含所有人類的情感
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
每一天都要出門，奇蹟在四處等著.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
如果我們大家把自己的問題都丟成一堆，然後看看其他人的，相信我們還是會把自己的撿回來.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
不用去稽核人生，現在就展現自己做最大的發揮
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
任何沒有用、不美、或不悅的都丟掉.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
到頭來所有最重要的事是你曾愛過
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
忌妒是在浪費時間，你已經擁有你所需要的了.
45. The best is yet to come.
最好的都還沒來.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
不管你感覺如何，起來，打扮好、展現自己
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
深吸一口氣，它讓心智平靜.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
如果你不問，你就得不到
49. Yield.謙讓
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
人生不會打上蝴蝶結，然而它仍然是一份禮物.