From Grandma Dorothy - 10 rules to live by

To my grandchildren. I have learned throughout my life that if we have the following characteristics, we can live happy, successful lives.

1. Attitude is everything. Our attitude is our own choice."You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will have the power to master your own experience rather that letting life control you." Brian Tracy.

2. "The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone.” Ibsen. The best advice I ever got: "Stand up and be counted for what you truly believe in, even if no one else is standing."

3. Have high self-esteem and self-worth.You are only as amazing as you let yourself be! Remember to be yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson told us, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

4. Be grateful instead of boastful. "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was "thank you," that would suffice. Meister Eckhart. John F. Kennedy said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest apreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

5. Be selective when you choose your friends. There is a Spanish proverb that says, "Tell me who you walk with and I'll tell you who you are." People will judge you by who you associate with as much as they judge you by what you do. Choose friends who have the same values, goals and dreams as you do. Don't ever surround yourself with people who are not aware of the greatness that you are!

6. Determination. Every accomplishment starts with a decision. Vince Lombardi once said "the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I will show you someone who has overcome challenges and adversity. Michael Jordan says, "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go around it, or work around it!"

7. Educate yourself. Learn, learn, learn. Albert Einstein said, "Intellectual growth should begin at birth and cease only at death." He also said, "The important thing is not to stop questioning - curiosity has its own reason for existing."

8. Your best investment is in yourself, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you!" Grandma Dorothy says to invest in yourself by doing things that are going to make your life better in every way. Invest in yourself by taking care of your health. Invest in yourself by getting an education. Invest in yourself by taking care of your relationships with family and friends. Make the most of what you have inside of you!

9. Be generous and always think of others. Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What's in it for me?" Mother Theresa said, "We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love." So be generous with what you can, whether its time, knowledge, or money.

10. If you use what God gave you, you can do anything!!! It's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny." Tony Robbins.

Finally, Dr. Seuss said, "You have the brains in your head. You have the feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the one who'll decide where to go."