I have seen this three times on Facebook in the last week, so I thought I would just post it here, and I will come back to some of the points as reference my blog. 

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio .

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don’t worry, God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come…

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

I didn’t write a post last night. I wanted to, but it was an exhausting day, and I just didn’t have the energy to write when I got home.

Last night I went to a community meeting being chaired by Councilman Alan Sheffman regarding more development in my neighbourhood. I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was a “community meeting” and there were less than 15 people there from the entire community. I know that it was posted in our elevators in the condo, but I don’t know what other kind of advertising there was about the meeting. More people SHOULD care, but it is the same when we have our AGM meetings or other meetings that require attendance, it is the same 15 – 20 people that always show up at the meetings.

This was to discuss the piece of land that is just north of Centre street at New Westminster. If you are familiar with the area – on the west side of the street you have No Frills, Winners and Homesense. On the East side of the street you have the Constantia Retirement residents and then a large empty parcel of land, well, it doesn’t really look like a large parcel of land….until they show you what they want to build.

I knew that this area was going to have a lot of high rise development but I didn’t realize how much when I bought my little piece of pie in the sky back in 2004. My complex was supposed to consist of what was supposed to be 7 buildings. They are currently working on buildings 7 – 9 and there are two more to come to end the project. That will be 11 high rise, high density condos.

The next project is this one I attended last night, which is to have two more buildings (not going up at the same time) high density, high rise condos. The are applying to the city to ‘ammend their application’. The application they currently have is not for the maximum height allowed for a high rise, which is 22 stories. Their current application is for 18 stories, and they want to have it be the full 22 stories.

If you drive up and down Bathurst Street you are familiar with the green fence that borders the parcel of land from Beverley Glen and Bathurst to the Shoppers Drug Mart. That is purchased land that has been zoned for low rise development. They too have also recently applied to ammend their application to the city. They want to change their zoning from about 400 units to close to 800 units in that small area.

I wrote on the weekend about taking the subway “into the city” and the downtown core, and I realized that I am living in “downtown” Thornhill. In the next 5 – 7 years the landscape of Thornhill around the area that I live in is going to change drastically. There will be more high rises, and the arrival of the Rapid way transit system. They think that people are going to stop driving and get on the transit…..

Could be interesting for investors looking for properties to buy as they release the new buildings.

Time will tell…..but I do wish that this area had one thing that it is lacking….affordable housing. I would love to have a home of my own, in this area, but that is not remotely possible.

There is the ‘great divide’ amongst this city (and the city above the city). Those of us who live in the 905 vs those who live in the “GTA” or the 416. I have written before how I was mortified when I had to give up my 416 land line for my 905 one. I actually received this comment a couple of months ago, “why do you still have a land line?” To have or not to have a land line isn’t what this story is about….

Anyone who has attempted to drive anywhere in this city is aware of the fact that all the parking lots are gone. They have all been taken up by condos. A few weeks ago I attended an event at the Arcadian Court event venue space. Have you EVER tried to park around there? Well, if you did, you probably ended up at the city hall parking lot.

I am happy to say that I have found the best parking lot in the city. It just happens to be the TTC parking lot at Wilson Heights. I know!! Not even close to the downtown core, however three times in the last three weeks I have been downtown and parked there.

First time: Parking cost: $4
During a recent day off from work, I decided to spend the day downtown doing some good for others. Originally I was going to park at Downsview but that lot was full. I knew that Yorkdale would be full, and for a brief second thought I would drive. I didn’t want to drive, not just because the hassle of driving downtown, or the $20 it would have cost to park. It was more about spending the 25 minutes on the subway listening to music and taking a well needed time out. I asked on the intercom where I else there was to park. The unfriendly voice on the other end told me to go to Wilson Heights, there was a big parking lot. Not only that, but the entrance to the subway is right there, not a walk, like Downsview or Finch for that matter.

 A friend has a child at sick kids and I brought her lunch, and we spend a few hours talking, and catching up, as well as visiting her son. I have only ever been in the NICU one other time, and let me tell you, it is quite the place. It also allows us to be grateful that we live in a city with a hospital like Sick Kids, or Princess Margaret – life saving hospitals at our front door.

My second stop was visiting a family member at Mount Sinai, where again, I realized that the time you give to others is so important. What seems like a small gesture to one, is a HUGE gesture to another. I was glad that I was able to do both. While I was on the train on the way home, I felt very good about the day that I spent.

Second time: Parking cost: $2
Two weeks ago I was going with two of my friends to see Josh Groban at the ACC. During the discussion about how to get down there, it was a no brainer….”the better way”…and parking at my new favourite place to park. The two other ladies I was didn’t know about the lot, and because it was after work hours, we scored a spot right by the door, and within minutes we were on the train heading to the concert. Of course Union Station is short walk from the ACC….so we were good to go!

Today: Parking cost: FREE
Weekends are free to park….so really a no brainer. I was going to the International Woman’s show at the convention centre, where I think onsite parking is $20. I parked for free and my tokens (3) were $8, so I was ahead of the game, and have one left over for future use.

For those of you who know me well, you know that subways were not always my thing. In fact, for a very long time, I avoided them. But now, if it makes sense to use the subway as a mode of transportation, I would choose it. I am NOT saying that I want to become a commuter and work downtown….please do not misunderstand me, I admire those who do that every day, but that is not me. I know…never say never, but for now, the odd time (3 in 3 weeks) is just fine with me.

Thanks for reading, see y’all tomorrow!