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."

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 to waste time hating anyone. ?

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. ?

5. Pay off your credit cards every month. ?

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. ?

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, beautiful or joyful. ?

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. ?

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is 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 everyone everything.

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 -- 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. You already have all 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."