All I Really Need to Know I Did Not Learn in Kindergarten

With due respect to Mr. Fulghum, of course. As far as I'm concerned, significant life lessons are those that I grasped, not from the early years before grade school, but from the second half of my 38 years in this world.

1. Do not confuse spirituality with religiosity. The former can stand without the latter.
2. Laugh. The louder the better.
3. Conventions are made to be broken away from.
4. It is of utmost importance to have a mind of your own.
   
5. Your present actions cannot forever be reactions to whatever wrongs you had to suffer in the past. Likewise, you have to stop seeing yourself as a victim.
6. Kindness is a virtue that should be shown to others as well as the self.
7. Walls are best built around homes, not around your person. If you know what I mean.
8. Anger is an ugly feeling. But people who make you angry are way uglier. Haha.
9. Never stay angry for long with people who matter. You are sure to regret it one day.
10. Forgive and forget is a fallacy. Otherwise, how will you ever learn?
11. There will always be people who are unhealthy for you. Let them go. And when they come knocking on your door, make sure it is locked.
12. Get out of your parents' sphere of influence as early as possible. It is a strain to live with someone who is still there.
13. Taking responsibility for anyone or anything is key to growing up.
14. When you're feeling tired, rest. Take a breather. Disappear.
15. Excess baggage is bound to pull you down. Unload.
16. Being jaded is a curse. Don't be.
    
17. Fighting for what you believe in may not always turn out all right.
18. Knowing when something or someone is not worth it is crucial at all points in your life.
19. There are times when it is easier to walk away than to stay.
20. The ego can be your worst enemy.
21. When your world is falling apart, a change in perspective is in order.
22. Self-respect is essential to survival.
23. Happiness is not a product of the mind. It is gone the moment you rationalize it.
24. Money is not everything. But never forget that man lives, first and foremost, on bread.
25. Time is the most precious commodity in the universe. And, yes, it cannot be bought, especially if you're not filthy rich.
26. Save your favorite books. They can be worthy companions in old age.
27. The future is best viewed with an open mind.
28. Girl bonding — and bonding with male friends — is necessary for sanity's sake. At least once every quarter, please.
29. The truth hurts most of the time. Be prepared not to tell people you care about if they are not ready for it.
30. Hasty decisions more often than not lead to difficult situations. Caution is not a bad thing, you know.
    
31. Expectations can ruin relationships. Keep them moderate.
32. Even the smartest of women can be fools for love. Just stay smart.
33. It is better to give than to receive. Who cares if it's the corniest line on earth?
34. The principle of non-attachment becomes harder to apply once you bring a child into the world.
35. Parenting is all about unconditional love. Period.
36. To have someone to care for, like a child born from you, is life's ultimate blessing.
37. Take every effort to be thankful. For everything.
38. There are more lessons to come as you gain years and wisdom. Be open.

Quite a long list actually. But then again what you know is only as good as what you practice. And this is where the real challenge lies.