I have included what I call life lessons in each section of this book – a sentence or two to help you navigate this difficult world (especially right now since at the time I’m writing we’re still in the middle of the pandemic). There are a lot of them. If we don’t learn from our experiences, then why have them? If I can help you with what I have found out in all these years – even if it’s just one lesson – I will have achieved my goal. Here are 14 basic lessons to start you off. There are many more throughout the book – one pearl of experience (I’m hesitant to say ‘wisdom’) per section.

So, perhaps that is my first life lesson for you. When you have a mission, it’s a part of you ingrained in your being. Sometimes you take a long time to recognize what that mission is, but you will find it. For me, it was becoming a doctor. Nothing could derail me, although the universe tried many times. It took me 3 attempts to get into medical school and I just kept trying. I didn’t have a clue what else to do except to keep applying. I just HAD to be a doctor, whatever it took. My ultimate mission is to touch people, care for them, and influence them positively. This is something I can still do even when not practicing medicine.

Life Lesson – Life follows that old curved cobblestone road and often you’ll think “what’s the point?” Just hang on. You will get to where you’re supposed to be. Find out what your mission is and follow it until you achieve it.

If things don’t go exactly as you plan, then make modifications so that you will get as close as you can. Allow things to happen as they will – don’t resist. I had wanted to be a neurosurgeon from a very early age. I wanted to cut into people’s brains – guess I could have just as easily been Frankenstein, huh?

The Universe got involved once again, and I developed epilepsy at age 21. There are many interesting twists and turns around that event, but the most important one is that after the diagnosis, there’s no way I could be a neurosurgeon – or any other kind of surgeon, for that matter. So, it took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to be, but that was okay because I just let the universe guide me. And guide me it did. I am glad that I didn’t pursue my desire to be a neurosurgeon because the number of people I have touched in my career allowed me to have a greater influence – fulfilling my major purpose in life.

Life Lesson – If things don’t go as you planned, don’t give up hope. The Universe knows better than you do and will deliver the best thing for you – even if you’re having difficulty believing that right now.

Learn that your identity is within, not without. Learn to accept and be yourself, tying no value to what you do or what you’ve accomplished. Those things don’t really matter in life. Remember this quote by Maya Angelou and make it your life’s purpose to make people feel worthy, valuable, and needed.

I think this is probably the most important quote I have ever come across and it should be taught next to the Golden Rule when we are young children. If we all operated according to this, the world would be completely different.

Life Lesson – Learn that your identity is within, not without. Learn to accept and be yourself tying no value to what you do or what you’ve done and accomplished.

This is a corollary to Lesson 3. Just be yourself! Learn to just be who you are and not to hide in any sort of identity. You’re not a doctor or a lawyer or a nurse when you’re out there doing whatever it is you really want to do. The wonderful qualities that make up your personality are YOU. You don’t have to weigh and measure successes. Once you know what it is you want, go get it and to hell with what everyone else thinks! You can do it if you want it enough!

Life Lesson – Just be yourself. You are NOT what you do; you are not your job; you are YOU with all the outer wear stripped off. There is no shame in standing naked. It’s difficult, but it is rewarding.