We judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves but our intentions. This one stuck with me hard when I first heard it some years ago. Relevant:

“Hanlon’s razor is a saying that reads: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. In simpler words: some bad things happen not because of people having bad intentions, but because they did not think it through properly.”

Loneliness is okay. This is a fundamental teaching in Buddhism. When I offer this to folks, they often say, you mean aloneness is okay. I never feel lonely anymore, I just feel alone. I say, no: I’m talking about loneliness: that awkward hard feeling when you don’t want to be alone, when you feel like something might be wrong for you. That is okay. Not just those times when you’re alone doing something great or feeling great.

Relationships are not for making us happy. You have to make you happy, through maitri, and then you can be a great, non-co-dependent partner to someone. Relationships are for serving our world, not lifelong picnics.

Related: “We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.” ~Tom Robbins

You can have the best yummiest fanciest meal in the world, but if you aren’t present for it, you won’t taste it.

You can’t fix people. Sometimes trying only hurts them. That said, it’s nice to care, and try, but it’s not helpful to try unless you’re doing so out of genuine compassion, not “idiot compassion.”  Also: “People don’t have to take the advice you give them even if they asked for it.”

Get some sleep.

“Please don’t drink and drive. Every day 29 people are killed in the United States involving an alcohol impaired driver. Do not let your choices take others lives away.”

Same goes for texting and driving.

 

 

Author: Waylon Lewis. A few random quotes, linked, via Wikipedia or Reddit.
Links: mindful resources on Elephant (read them).