Lessons Learned…and better practices

In my line of work, one important aspect of continuous improvement is outlining lessons learned.  This serves a variety of purposes: it streamlines operations by knowing what works, what doesn’t and the probability of each of them happening; it serves as a template for other projects to avoid certain pitfalls by mining a treasure-trove of similar ideas and best practices.  Back in school it also provided me a feedback mechanism to be able to internalize facets of life and understand them in the proper context.  I normally outline lessons learned towards the end of the year; however, I’ve gotten a good few items that may last me through the remainder of the year and probably the next; not that I’m seeing the end, but probably because I’m about to start with a new beginning.  I don’t subscribe to own them, but they must’ve been really mine at some point:

1. The best feeling of happiness is when you’re happy because you’ve made somebody else happy and feel special even for just a mere day.
2. Be careful who you trust, the devil was once an angel.
3. Often we forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget.
4. Anyone can love you when the sun is shining, but you learn who truly cares for you in the storms.
5. It’s better to have nobody than to have someone who’s half there or who doesn’t want to be there.
6. I cannot always count on others to respect my feelings, even if I respect theirs.  Being a good person doesn’t guarantee that others will be good people.  Only you have control over yourself and how you choose to be as a person.  As for others, you can simply accept them or walk away.
7. Spending time alone is healthy too; it helps me know myself and not be defined by another person.
8. Stop crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t even jump puddles for you.
9. If someone seriously wants to be a part of your life, they will seriously make an effort to be in it; no reason, no excuses.
10. Never apologize for what or how you feel.  Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.
11. Never push a loyal person to a point where they no longer care.
12. The only people who will be mad at you for speaking the truth are those who are living a lie.
13. You cannot be good enough for everybody, but you will always be the best for the one who deserves you.
14. Never waste words on people who deserve your silence. 
15. When people treat you like they don’t care, believe them.
16. Someone will love you more than what you’ve expected.  Be patient and learn to wait because sometimes, the patient person has the best love story to tell.
17. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel so alone.
18. Arguing with a fool only proves that there are two.
19. Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person to control your emotions.
20. If one day I choose not to love you, it doesn’t mean that I never loved you at all or that I loved you less; it means you may have made yourself unlovable, but I must still love myself regardless.