Life is complicated.  It is not easy, smooth, or even consistently comprehensible.  However, as frustrating as it may be, it is wonderful.  The world has infinite possibilities for everyone, even when things seem hopeless.  No one person has all the answers to living a happy life, but each individual has something to share.  Whether young or old, every person has learned something in their life that they can offer as advice to others.  Some advice is new, and other times it is a reminder of what we have forgotten or pushed aside.  We have compiled a list of the top 50 life lessons. Whether it is new or a reminder of lessons past, we hope you are able to take something away from it.
  1. Marry your best friend: If the person you're the most comfortable with isn't your spouse, make them! (Assuming this person is not your family member)
  2. Don't stop learning: If you start coasting through life, you're gonna lose. Always stretch your intellect.
  3. Forgive as much as possible. Grudges achieve little.
  4. Do something that's not for money.
  5. Time passes by a lot faster than you'd think. This effect accelerates with age.
  6. Some things can't be learned; they can only be experienced.
  7. Wealth is relatively unimportant.
  8. Don't lie to yourself.
  9. The past is something you learn from.  It is not something you live in.
  10. Wealth is measured by your happiness and not by your financial statement.
  11. Do things for yourself in everything you do; don’t live for other people.
  12. Learn to handle criticism.
  13. Value the people in your life.
  14. Be happy for other people who are happy.
  15. Embrace vulnerability.
  16. Challenge yourself a little bit everyday.
  17. Quality beats quantity.
  18. Don’t get too attached to material things.
  19. Seek out people with different beliefs and views of the world to yours and get to know their side of the story.
  20. Living a good life is the best way possible to convince people.
  21. Nobody has it all figured out.
  22. There’s no shame in saying “I don’t know”.
  23. Possessions own you.
  24. Get outside and do something with other people.
  25. Take your time.
  26. You can’t please everyone.
  27. Make mistakes – and LOTS of them!
  28. Wear sunscreen.
  29. Stop thinking so much and act.
  30. Dance and sing whenever possible.
  31. You don’t know what you’ve got ’till its gone.
  32. Swallow your pride and apologise.
  33. People are not alone in being alone.
  34. Love isn’t “all” you need, but if you don’t have it in some form, your life will be very empty.
  35. Life is a million times easier when you focus on the great things in people and not the bad.
  36. The grass is only greener where you water it.
  37. Money isn't an end, it's a means.
  38. Nobody can fix you. You have to fix your own problems or adapt to them. Other people can be helpful, but only so much.
  39. Being a "genius," in IQ terms, means nothing if you don't contribute anything important to society.
  40. People are your greatest resource.
  41. Repetition is the father of learning.
  42. Honesty is the best policy.
  43. Listening > Talking.
  44. Determination and motivation trump all else.
  45. Remember your humanity.
  46. Take time out to practice humility.
  47. You are the only person with the power and ability to control your own level of happiness. You and you alone control how happy you allow yourself to be.
  48. Do more of what you love, less of what you don’t.
  49. Inspiration is everything, yet nothing if you don’t act on it
  50. Be present here and now. You are lucky. Your life is a gift. Realize it.
Featured photo credit:  A toddler climbing on a steps  via Shutterstock